Mr. Anjum Nisar, a prominent industrialist and Vice President of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry from Pakistan led a business delegation to Sri Lanka to participate in the 83rd Executive Committee Meeting and 27th General Assembly Meetings held, under the Chair of Md. Jashim Uddin, President, SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Continuing the momentum of the regional meetings, SAARC Women Entrepreneurs Council (SCWEC) and SAARC Young Entrepreneurs Council (SYEF) were also held to discuss the council’s activities and initiatives and to keep propelling the agenda of SAARC.
On the sideline of board meetings, a three-day South Asia Trade Fair 2024 was also held along business conference hosted by the Federation of Sri Lanka Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Hon’ble Mr. Dinesh Gunawardena, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and His Excellency, Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of SAARC and Md. Jashim Uddin, President, SAARC CCI, jointly inaugurated the Trade Fair and visited all the stalls.
In his inaugural address, the Hon’ble Prime Minister urged South Asian entrepreneurs to focus on innovative new products and services to enhance regional economic cooperation. He added that this forum gives an immense opportunity for trade and businesses across South Asia to exhibit their products and services to grow beyond their usual parameters. It creates a platform for expanding their international trade at the export markets in South Asia and beyond.
His Excellency, Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of SAARC highlighted the significance of government support for the South Asian business community in achieving the region’s goals. He further emphasized the need to explore connectivity possibilities at the government level and find solutions to unify all exhibitors from South Asian countries onto a single platform.
Md. Jashim Uddin, President, SAARC CCI commended the efforts of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) for organizing a platform that fosters cross-border business opportunities.
The diplomatic missions from SAARC Member countries also witnessed the opening ceremony of the trade fair including H.E. Mr. Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, H.E. Mr. Andalib Elias, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka, H.E. Mr. Masood Imad, High Commissioner of Maldives to Sri Lanka, and Ms. Mahwish Sami, Trade & Investment Attache.
The business conference titled “Investment Cooperation & Trade Facilitation, Advancing the SAARC Agenda” was jointly held in collaboration with Friedrich Naumann Foundation, SAARC CCI and Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka.
Hon’ble Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Mr. Ali Sabry was the chief guest of the conference. H. E Secretary General of SAARC, Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar, Vice Governor of CCPIT Sichuan province, and President of SAARC CCI, Md. Jashim Uddin also addressed the conference’s inaugural session as a special guest.
During the penal discussion, the speakers focused on “Investment Cooperation & Trade Facilitation in SAARC member countries and stressed on the importance of collaborative efforts to enhance economic integration among member states. They advocated for investments and trade cooperation, leveraging opportunities for Sino-SAARC cooperation and exploring synergies with external partners like EU.
Mr. Anjum Nisar, Vice President, SAARC CCI (Pakistan Chapter), Mr. Bhavesh R. Trivedi, Director, Economic, Trade & Finance (ETF) in SAARC Secretariat were among the eminent speakers of the session.
Mr. Anjum Nisar stated “Inter-regional commercial cooperation is critical for SAARC economic transformation and integration. Addressing the challenges, exploring the opportunities, and promoting deeper partnerships with external partners like China and the EU are crucial for unlocking the region’s full potential”.
The events concluded on a positive note, with great participation of South Asian Business leaders and more than 100 exhibitors from South Asia member states and China. The events successfully highlighted the potential for increased regional integration and economic growth.
Eminent business leaders from Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka participated in the meetings including Mr. Khairuddin Mayel Ahmadi, Vice President SAARC CCI (Afghanistan), Mr. Shafquat Haider, Vice President SAARC CCI (Bangladesh), Mr. Chandi Raj Dhakal, Vice President SAARC CCI (Nepal), Mian Anjum Nisar, Vice President SAARC CCI (Pakistan) and Dr. M. Rohitha Silva, Vice President SAARC CCI (Sri Lanka), Mr. Keerthi Gunawardane, President FCCISL, Mr. Ruwan Edirisinghe, Past President, SAARC CCI, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Butt, Secretary General, SAARC CCI and Mr. Bader Munir, Director Internal Affairs, SAARC CCI, and Dr. Shehla Akram, Executive Committee Member, SAARC CCI (Pakistan Chapter).
