TLTP
ISLAMABAD
Iftikhar Ali Malik Thursday said that as president of SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry, he would focus on improving Pakistan’s trade relations with SAARC member states.
He further said that he would use SAARC CCI platform for developing strong networking and business linkages between the private sectors of SAARC countries to capitalize on the trade potential of SAARC Region.
Malik said this during a meeting with a delegation of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry, who led by President Muhammad Ahmed Waheed met with Iftikhar Ali Malik and congratulated him on assuming the charge of President, SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The delegation also congratulated Zubair Ahmed Malik, former President ICCI for his election as Executive Member SAARC CCI.
Tahir Abbasi, Senior Vice President, Saif ur Rehman Khan, Vice President ICCI, Mian Akram Farid, Chairman ICCI Founder Group, Sheikh Tariq Sadiq, Mian Shaukat Masud, Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi, Ch Waheedud Din, Atif Ikram Sheikh, Sheikh Amir Waheed, Karim Aziz Malik, Malik Sohail Hussain, Muhammad Naveed Malik, Mahmood Ahmed Warraich, Muhammad Shakeel Munir, Ashfaq Chatha and others were part of the delegation. Mian Anjum Nisar, President FPCCI, Senator Haji Ghulam Ali Vice President SAARC CCI and others were also present at the occasion.
Iftikhar Ali Malik said that trade among the SAARC region was just 7 percent, which is far less than the trade among other regional blocks like EU ASEAN and NAFTA and improving trade among the SAARC region would be his key priority.
He thanked ICCI delegation for congratulating him and assured that he would work in cooperation with trade bodies of Pakistan to explore new opportunities for Pakistani business community in SAARC region. He further said that he would try to complete the building of SAARC CCI headquarters in Islamabad to make it functional.
Speaking at the occasion, President ICCI Muhammad Ahmed Waheed hoped that Malik’s tenure would be instrumental in starting a new era of growing trade and economic relations among SAARC member states. He said that Malik is an experienced business leader with great exposure in SAARC countries and his election as President SAARC CCI would bring beneficial outcomes for the economy of Pakistan.
He said that Malik should focus on promoting business linkages between young entrepreneurs of SAARC countries that would be helpful in boosting trade in SAARC Region. He said that Zubair Ahmed Malik has detailed knowledge on SAARC countries and hoped that as Executive Member SAARC CCI, he would contribute to promoting business interests of SAARC countries.
He said that if appropriate steps are taken to remove trade barriers and streamline custom procedures, intra-regional trade in SAARC countries could be increased manifold. He assured that ICCI would extend full cooperation to him in his endeavours aimed at enhancing Pakistan’s trade and exports with SAARC member states.
