KARACHI: The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the British Business Centre Pakistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further advance relations between both entities, promote economic cooperation and ensure optimum development of trade relations between Pakistani and British companies.
The MoU was signed by KCCI President Younus Muhammad Bashir and British Business Centre Chief Executive Officer Malahat Awan in presence of Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, British Deputy High Commissioner John Tucknott, Businessmen Group Chairman Siraj Kassam Teli, Vice Chairman Anjum Nisar, KCCI Senior Vice President Zia Ahmed Khan, Vice President Muhammad Naeem Sharif, KCCI former presidents AQ Khalil, M Haroon Bari, Khalid Firoz, Majyd Aziz, Mian Abrar Ahmed, M. Haroon Agar, Abdullah Zaki, and Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra while KCCI Managing Committee members and other prominent business figures were also present on the occasion.
According to MoU, the Karachi Chamber and British Business Center have agreed to encourage, promote and facilitate effective cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, technology transfer and related economic and industrial activities by establishing effective communication between member companies of both the organizations with particular reference to the private sector.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat ul Ebad Khan termed the signing of MoU between KCCI and British Business Center as a “significant and very important” event which would help in furthering relations between the two countries.
Referring to Siraj Teli’s remarks, Governor Sindh said that Karachi city has undergone rollercoaster ride in the past but they courageously faced all the issues and during the last three years, they have remained engaged in Karachi Operation to ensure peace all over the city. “We have come a long way and all these activities of signing MoUs and other similar events clearly indicate the achievements of Karachi Operation”, he added.
“Prosperity cannot be achieved unless we have peace”, he said, adding that the development work which remained halted for the past at least 5 years, has been started by undertaking some mega projects in Karachi, particularly the work on completion of Liyari Expressway.
“We have firm resolve that we will go very hard against all kinds of criminalities, all kind of disturbances and all kind of mafias as we are determined to have a peaceful and stable Karachi”, he added.
Chairman Businessmen Group and Former President KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli, in his remarks, stated that the establishment of British Business Center in Karachi will go a long way because of the fact that UK and Pakistan were in business since the inception of Pakistan and it was heartening to note that more than 100 companies from UK were successfully doing business in Pakistan.
He was of the view that the British Deputy High Commission has chosen the right way by signing this MoU with Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry which is the largest chamber of Pakistan in terms of membership as well as revenue and business. “Even if the memberships of all Chambers of Commerce across Pakistan are consolidated, it will not be equivalent to the membership of KCCI. The Karachi Chamber is a place where we are working with all tiers of the government including local government, Sindh government and Federal government with an intention to fully assist the business and industrial community of Karachi”, he added.
Siraj Teli said that Karachi, being one of the largest city of the country spread on an area of more than 3500 square kilometers, is commonly known as business and industrial hub of Pakistan but we strongly believe that ‘Karachi is Pakistan’ and there is no Pakistan without Karachi as everything going to the rest of the country moves from Karachi.
On the occasion, Siraj Teli also paid glowing tribute to Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat ul Ebad Khan for his absolute support to Karachi Chamber’s initiatives since 2004 when KCCI decided to organize My Karachi – Oasis of Harmony. “It is encouraging for all of us that out of 13 My Karachi Exhibitions held so far, Governor Sindh has participated in at least 8 exhibitions and has always supported KCCI and the business and industrial community of Karachi”, he added.
British Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi, John Tucknott MBE, while welcoming the guests, said, “The UK already enjoys a strong relationship with Pakistan in the key area of prosperity. The British Business Centre’s goal is to contribute to an increase in bilateral trade and investment, in line with the commitments made by Prime Ministers David Cameron and Nawaz Sharif when they met in London in April 2014.”
“We welcome the support that the KCCI is extending towards the Centre in order to help achieve this goal”, he added.
