LAHORE - Following its vision of empowering positive business thinking and improving cooperation within the region, the Saarc Chamber of Commerce & Industry in collaboration with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry organized the Young Entrepreneurs’ Summit South Asia 2015.
The Saarc CCI Young Entrepreneurs Forum is aimed to discuss cross- border learning and networking among young entrepreneurs and to building connections with the wider eco-system. Hundreds of delegates attended this forum from different countries in the South Asian region to network, learn and share their experiences.
This was stated by Vice President Saarc CCI Iftikhar Ali Malik while addressing the participants of the summit. He said that the forum is also providing a unique platform to young CEOs and business leaders to discuss the opportunities present in South Asian region and establish mutually beneficial connections.
Iftikhar Malik, while giving a special address at the event, said that this strategic initiative is taken by the members of Saarc CCI Pakistan, who have worked to bring together business leaders from across the member countries. He said that Saarc CCI Young Entrepreneur Forum is designed to bring together leaders from the eight chambers of commerce & Industry and to provide a forum of shared viewpoints on the future needs of South Asian region. The mission of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) is to develop a new generation of leadership to take Pakistan beyond the 21st century, he added.
While talking to the media after the summit, he said that SAARC Chambers of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) can play a pivotal role in deepening and widening economic and regional co-operation with special focus on stamping out the ever increasing menace of terror in the region.
The intra-regional trade figures for South Asia are disappointing as trade in the region constitutes only 1.4 percent of the total world imports and 1.2 percent of exports, whereas merchandise trade is only 27.9 percent of GDP, the lowest in the world. He said that world development indicators have revealed South Asia houses 1.4 billion world’s population thus representing a large workforce, tremendous business and investment opportunities.
Iftikhar said that Chamber has fully supported the government-industry partnership and remained engaged in dialogue with governments of the SAARC region. He stressed an urgent need for promotion of regional and economic cooperation in South Asia, however, political tensions and development constraints that the region has faced over the years played a decelerating role in economic integration of South Asia.
If all the SAARC member countries pool and harness their indigenous resources, it will definitely help to improve socio-economic conditions and welfare of their respective people, Malik added.
To a question, he said that the construction work of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAARCCI) permanent headquarters building in Islamabad has been started, which would be completed within two years time with the cost of would cost Rs.500 million. Featuring ground plus nine storey iconic building will be a symbol of honour for Pakistan.
Iftikhar Ali Malik while highlighting the main features of the important building, said that it would have an attractive, unique architecture and the Headquarters for SAARC would be symbolic as the United Nations (UN).