RECORDER REPORT

FAISALABAD: A paradigm move in Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry from a traditional advocacy forum to an aggressive and proactive knowledge based entity will make FCCI a leading and most productive chamber of the country and the publication of a comprehensive study report on CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) is a first step toward this direction, said Mian Muhammad Idrees chairmen Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (FIDMEC) and former president Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).

He was speaking at a launching ceremony of study report on CPEC here on Friday.

He said that $55 billion investment on CPEC will have its own inherent pros and corns. “It also have unlimited opportunities for our business communities specially the young entrepreneurs to compete successfully with the investors from China who have edge of surplus capital, modern technology with in depth knowledge of the fast changing international economic situation.

He appreciated the attempt of FCCI to conduct study on this most sensitive issue which is going to reshape the world economy. In this situation we have to prepare ourselves and take up emerging challenges more aggressively and convincingly with our government at the local, national and international level. He said there are many chambers that are toeing traditional strategies but the FCCI has taken an innovation step by reactivating its R&D cell which will benefit the entire business community of Pakistan. He said this study report should not be the first and only one and its R&D section should be tasked to conduct regular studies on the changing economic prospects.

He said he is confident that our businessmen and particularly the young entrepreneurs are very resilient and has capacities and have potential to face any challenge in most odd conditions. He also welcomed the establishment of Young Entrepreneur’s Forum (YEF) and said that they should be fully supported and motivated to hold its regular meetings by electing its office barriers from amongst themselves.

He directed to widely circulate the copies of study report on CPEC among all Business houses and government circles including Pakistan Business Council and other chambers of the country. He hoped that this book will also play its role in the image building of FCCI as a premier and productive chamber of Pakistan.

Earlier president Muhammad Saeed Sheikh in his welcome speech paid glowing tribute to vice president Ahmed Hassan who has been making pain-taking efforts to reorganize and upgrade the quality and efficiency of R&D cell as head of the R&D cell, CPEC and IT committee. He has achieved tremendous achievements during a short span of months. He also thanked Musadiq Zulqarnain of Interloop who has donated Rs 2 million for R&D section of FCCI. He requested Mian Muhammad Adrees to nominated Ahmed Hassan as head of the above mentioned 3 committees in reorganization of his meritorious services.

SVP Rana Sikandar Azam said that this study report should also contain the potential hazards and hoped that these would be included in the next addition of this book.

VP Ahmed Hassan said that he had been trying his optimum best to publish a reliable, comprehensive and transparent study on CPEC which can change the economic face of Pakistan. He said that despite of his best efforts some ambiguities are still polluting the minds of Pakistani investors and he will continue his efforts to remove these ambiguities. He also assured that the R&D section would be further strengthening to continuously analyze the economic issues and circulate its findings to its 5000 members with a single click. However, he thanked president, SVP and Executive committee for extending full support and cooperation in materializing the objective of making FCCI a most convincing advocacy and information based platform of the business community.

Dr. Khurram Tariq former central chairman Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Chaudhary Muhammad Nawaz and Muzammil Sultan also addressed the function and presented viable suggestions to improve the overall performance of FCCI.