SCCI meet shifted from Karachi to New Delhi

January 5th, 2008 Aimon · No Comments

LAHORE: The venue of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) presidential meeting has been changed from the Pakistani port city of Karachi to New Delhi in the wake of assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.

Iftikhar Ali Malik, who is set to take over as the vice president of SCCI’s Pakistan chapter on Saturday said that the executive committee meeting of the body was scheduled to be held in Karachi. Following protests against Bhutto’s assassination, the meet will be held in New Delhi on January 13.

SCCI president Dasho Ugen Tasechup Dorji of Bhutan will chair the meeting and formally hand over the presidency to Pakistan’s Tariq Sayeed for the next two years. Malik, the founder president of the Pakistan-US Business Council will take over as the vice president of SCCI’s Pakistan chapter.

A 10-member delegation Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Tanvir Ahmad Sheikh will participate in the meeting. Pakistan is set to head the SCCI after 14 years.

Malik said the SCCI’s objectives include developing global linkages, providing services to the private sector and working closely with governments and developing an institutional framework for promoting economic cooperation in South Asia.

The areas of focus include trade liberalisation, economic policy reforms, harmonisation of standards, intellectual property rights, tourism promotion, SMEs and women entrepreneur development and energy cooperation.