President SCCI meets Commerce Minister
By Fakhar Alam

ISLAMABAD—President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAARC CCI) Tariq Sayeed called on Federal Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Ameen Faheem in his office and discussed various issues relating to the business community and to expand trade net with other countries particularly with the SAARC member countries. 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.
During the meeting, 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.
He 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 saying it’s an honor for Pakistan to have SAARC CCI Headquarter in Pakistan.
President SAARC CCI proposed the ideas of “Implementation department” in each Ministry for analyzing and proper implementation of the decisions taken by the government decision. On this occasion, Federal Minister for Commerce and senior PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim appreciated his idea and said his Ministry will work on this.
Tariq 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 urged upon the need for market access from USA for Pakistani product, not financial aid.
The two sides shared views that the region can not prosper without attaining the goals of trade liberalization and economic integration of the SAARC member nations. Mr. Sayeed suggested ways and means that how government can overcome problems, impeding the growth of trade with other countries and admired current Governments of Pakistan for their earnest efforts to normalize the bilateral relations. He urge the government of Pakistan to increase the number of SVES (SAARC Visa Exemption Sticker).
The Commerce Minister agreed to consider the idea of increasing number of SAARC Visa Stickers to 300 and 500 multiple visa for businessmen for each member country of SAARC region.
Mr. Sayeed informed the Commerce Minister about holding of 3rd SAARC Business Leaders Conclave (3rd SBLC) which is a mega event that will build high image of Pakistan globally, India already have organized SBLC two times. He said that Pakistan should stop taking loans because we already have 50 billion dollar loan, further he also suggested to curtailed exports by 10 percent. He said SAARC CCI is closely working with global partners including Commonwealth Business Council (CBC-London), Eurochambres (Brussels), EU-Asia Invest, ECO Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) and Worlds Chamber Network.
The President SAARC CCI also informed the Minister that he has been invited as a keynote speaker to address the inaugural session of 4th China-South Asia Business Forum during June 5-7, 2009 in Kunming (China). TDAP is organizing 75 stalls in Business Forum.