Mr Tariq Sayeed, president, SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry(SAARC CCI) was invited by the SAARC Secretariat to make presentation on behalf of the business community of South Asia before CEC, which was attended by Secretaries of Commerce from SAARC member states.
The Presentation delivered by Mr Sayeed comprised two parts. In the first part, he enlightened the participants about the activities of SAARCCCI during the year 2008 stating that SAARC CCI was actively responded to the issues relating to Trade Facilitation, Market Access, Non-tariff barriers Women entrepreneurs' development and efforts for institutional capacity building so that SAARC CCI could effectively suggest effective policy options to SAARC Secretariat and member Governments for creating favourable business climate.
In the second part, President, SAARC CCI specifically identified some problems and irritants, which were impeding growth of trade in the region. He categorically mentioned some NTBs and urged upon the removal of para-tariff, technical and Non-tariff Barriers (NTBs) to trade, which had been the major hurdles in promotion of intra-regional trade in South Asia.
The suggestions/ recommendations for effective implementation of SAFTA were as follows: Signing of various agreements, MoUs and protocols including framework agreement on mutual recognition of certification, laboratory testing and standards.
Need for a regional investment protocol to promote and protect intra regional investments and signing of double taxation avoidance treaty Promotion of co-operation in Energy to meet the acute shortage of energy by exploration of the regional hydro-potential, grid connectivity and gas pipelines Close regional co-operation in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) including allowing the roaming facility on mobile phones.
Adoption of common tariff nomenclature, the harmonisation of customs procedures etc Implementation of an efficient multimodal transport system including Regional Motor Vehicle Transport Agreement and adoption of open sky policy in South Asia. Increase in number of Visa Stickers from 100 to 300 for each member state of SAARC.
Issuance of 5-year multiple entry visas, free from police reporting and city restriction for 500 Businessmen from each of SAARC member country based on reciprocity.
He also urged upon the need for strengthening of linkage between SAARC Chamber and SAARC Secretariat on the pattern of relationship, which exists between regional organisation like NAFTA, EU, ASEAN and their affiliated business organisations. He proposed the CEC to involve SAARC CCI in the process of policy-making by inviting SAARC CCI at Secretary, Ministerial conferences and at the level of Summit.
SAARC CCI Delegation led by Mr Tariq Sayeed calls on the Hon'ble Prime Minister of Nepal, 13th February 2009, Katmandu, Nepal: Mr Tariq Sayeed President SAARC CCI along SAARC CCI delegation called on Hon'ble Mr Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Prime Minister of Nepal on 13th February 2009 at Katmandu.
President SAARC CCI while welcoming the invitation of Nepalese Premier to invest in Nepal urged for an investment-friendly environment and said that the Government should form sectors where investments could be made.
He said that foreign Investment was instrumental to economic growth and requested the Prime Minister of Nepal to stand for the regional investment treaty and effective representation of SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry at SAARC Secretariat, Ministerial and Summit level. Prime Minister of Nepal assured of his co-operation in taking up issues.
He also appealed to the business community of South Asia to consider investment in Nepal as the country had the huge potential for Foreign Investment in all economic sectors. He particularly invited Pakistan's Private Businessmen to invest in the mutually beneficial areas. Mr Sayeed felicitated the Prime Minister for being the first elected Head of the Government after a long period of monarchy.
He termed this change as a catalyst to economic development of the country. Hon'ble Mr Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Prime Minister of Nepal appealed to the business community of South Asia to consider investment in agriculture, Manufacturing and Services Sector and appreciated the role of SAARC CCI towards promotion of economic co-operation.
The meeting was arranged by President of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mr Kush Kumar Joshi and Vice President, SAARC CCI, Mr Suraj Vaidya. In addition a 32- member delegation comprising Snr. Vice President Mir Nasir Hussein (Bangladesh), Vice Presidents, Mr Bap Kinga (Bhutan), Mr Ahmed Mujuthaba(Maldives), Mr Iftikhar Ali Malik, (Pakistan) and members Executive Commerce of SAARC CCI.
Pakistan delegation comprised of Sheikh Jamil Mehboob Maggoon, Former Snr. Vice President, SAARC CCI, Mr Zubair A. Malik, Executive Committee Member, SAARC CCI, Mr Fazal Elahi, Vice President, FPCCI, Mr Saifuddin Zoomkawala, Mr Shahzada Alam, Life Members, SAARC CCI, Mr Muhammad Iqbal Tabish, Secretary General and Ms Nafeesa Hashmi, Program Associate, SAARC CCI.
Mr Tariq Sayeed, President SAARC CCI called on Mr Makhdoom Ameen Faheem, Hon'ble Commerce Minister in his office, Islamabad. Mr Tariq Sayeed, President SAARC CCI was accompanied by Mr Iftikhar Ali Malik, Vice President, Mr Zubair Ahmed Malik, EC Member of SAARC CCI and Mr Zubair Tufail, Former Vice President FPCCI.
Mr Sayeed highlighted the role of SAARC CCI that it is trying to create synergies in key economic areas like trade, industry and investment and stresses the need of signing Investment treaties. So that Joint ventures in the mutually interested areas could be established between the entrepreneurs of the region.
Mr Sayeed asked for the Government Support for the construction of SAARC CCI building and presented a detail proposal which stated the salient features of SAARC CCI building in Islamabad which has two basements + Ground + Mezzanine + 9 Floor for office use, an auditorium with seating capacity of 256 participants and conference rooms, parking facility, central air-conditioning and heating system etc.
He said it's an honour for Pakistan to have SAARC CCI Headquarter in Pakistan. Mr Sayeed proposed the Ideas of "Implementation department" in each Ministry for analysing and proper implementation of the decisions taken by the government decision. Mr Faheem appreciated his idea and said his Ministry will work on this.
Mr Sayeed offered his services for Trade Related Technical Assistance since SAARC CCI has access to business community of the entire region and could be more useful in achieving the objectives. He appreciated the views and ideas of Commerce Minister and wished that every Minister should have similar approach for national and regional developments. He urge upon the need for market access from USA for Pakistani product, not financial aid.
Mr Tariq Sayeed, Vice President, Mr Iftikhar Ali Malik of SAARC CCI and Mr Sultan Ahmed Chawla, President FPCCI participated in 25th Annual General Meeting of OIC held in Cairo. President Mr Tariq Sayeed, Vice President, Mr Iftikhar Ali Malik of SAARC CCI and Mr Sultan Ahmed Chawla, President FPCCI participated in 25th Annual General Meeting of OIC held in Cairo.
Addressing the participants of the meeting Mr Sayeed said that OIC member states urgently need to promote sound marco-economic policies in order to accelerate the pace of economic growth, poverty alleviation and job-creation through public-private investment.
He was of the opinion that projects of public-benefit category must be undertaken within the region and these should be financed by the rich OIC countries to strengthen the infrastructure linkage with the construction of roads, railways, communication network and IT sector. The OIC countries should fully utilise the WTO mechanism to explore the areas where greater export expansion is possible in the world market.
Vice President SAARC CCI Iftikhar Ali Malik, while speaking on the occasion, said the time had come for the 57 OIC nations to modernise and achieve success through information and communication technology to form a unique trade block for competing in global market. There is need to exploit available resources properly and judiciously. There are large untapped natural resources yet to be exploited to improve the sluggish growth in trade and economy in OIC.
Mr Tariq Sayeed, President SAARC CCI called on the Hon'ble Mr Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistan at Presidents Secretariat, Islamabad along with his Vice President from Pakistan Mr Iftikhar Ali Malik and Secretary General, Mr Iqbal Tabish on July 2nd, 09.
During the meeting, Mr Sayeed gave a detailed presentation on history and the activities of SAARC CCI including 15 events organised during 18 months of his presidential tenure of two years and also six forthcoming events including SAARC Business Leaders Conclave, the most prestigious event of SAARC CCI by end of December, 2009. He also briefed the President about 10-storey Building of SAAR CCI Headquarters in Islamabad, the construction of which will be started shortly.
The Hon'ble President of Pakistan appreciated the activities of SAARC CCI and assured all co-operation of the Government of Pakistan for improving trade with South Asian countries and directed the concerned ministries to promptly take up SAARC CCI matters.
Hon'ble Mr Zardari said that the Government has undertaken liberal economic policies towards region of South Asia in general and with India in particular and expressed the desire of his Government for vigorously promoting economic relations with all the countries of the region.
He asked the SAARC CCI to undertake extensive visits of the region wherever possible within the eight nations to exploit untapped economic potential in the region and said that Pakistan's trade should not be hindered only because trade liberalisation with India was a slow process.
He said that despite global recession the export of Cement from Pakistan was in great demand in Sri Lanka, India and Afghanistan and said that Pakistan's exports had great potential in the region. He said that Government will persuade Public-Private model to attract Foreign Direct Investment in the Country.
The 38 members OIC delegation was led by President Iran Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Dr Nahavandian, and included Mr Tariq Sayeed, Honorary Life Member, Islamic Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mr Sultan Ahmed Chawla, President FPCCI, Mr Zubiar Tufail, former Vice President FPCCI and leading business figures from other OIC nations Called on Dr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Dr Ahmadinejad has stressed for enhanced economic co-operation and harmony amongst Muslim Ummah as a countervailing measure to face the challenges of Globalisation. He said that OIC was blessed enormous potential, the unleashing of which was required great political will of the OIC nations.
Mr Tariq Sayeed, was only one amongst 38 participants who was honoured to speak on behalf of the business community of OIC member nations at that occasion. Mr Sayeed regarded Iranian President as a man of courage, determination, vision and proactive leader of Muslim Ummah who steered the country in right direction despite enormous politico-economic challenges and restriction.
He was highly impressed by the simplicity of the office of the President and regarded it as a role model for the Head of States of developing countries. He said that this spirit showed the commitment of Iranian President to be a self-reliant nation, which should also be followed by others.
He also appreciated the trade policy of Iran, which allowed the establishment of commercial section to operate separately from embassies, which helped improve performance of these section and eventually played vital role it promoting country's trade. President SAARC CCI, Mr Tariq Sayeed is speaking on behalf of the business community of OIC member nations. Dr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran is also present.
A 10- member delegation led by Mr Tariq Sayeed, President SAARC CCI called on Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, who will inaugurate the 3rd SBLC, scheduled on 22nd-23rd November, 2009 at Colombo. The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka was briefed about the significance of this event, which is attended by leading CEOs of the region and is addressed by the World renowned economists and personalities.
The SAARC CCI will organised the 3rd SBLC in collaboration with the Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Sri Lanka, with the assistance of all National Chambers/ Federations of the SAARC member countries, the World Bank Group is a knowledge partner of the Conclave that will be supported by Freiedrich Nauman Foundation.
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Hon' ble Ratnasiri Wickremanayake has assured all possible co-operation to SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry to successfully organise the 3rd SAARC Business Leaders Conclave (SBLC), the most prestigious event of the business community in South Asia, stating that it will help image-building of the country and invite attention of global and regional players towards Sri Lanka as a favourable destination for Foreign Direct Investment.