Sher Malang
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KarachiMohammad Zubair Motiwala has been unanimously elected the first President of newly formed Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PAJCCI). This was announced after the first board meeting held here on Tuesday in which delegates from all respective chambers participated. During the board meeting it was decided that elected leadership would be on rotational basis, one year from Pakistan and another year from Afghanistan. From each side, two Vice Presidents have been elected. Total board constitutes 11 members from each country.
In presence of media Motiwala thanked Afghan board members for letting Pakistan hold the top slot for the first year. Answering to a question about the legality of this collaboration, he said that competent authority to validate such venture was Commerce Ministry that had granted them license. He further said that PAJCCI was not only cooperation between Chambers of Karachi and Kabul but was a joint collaboration between Karachi Chamber of Commerce (KCCI), Chaman Chamber of Commerce (CCCI), Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Chamber of Commerce (KPCCI) and Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce (ACCI). Clarifying the logic behind this undertaking he maintained that key trade routes were situated in these geographical entities.
Motiwala said when the two governments had involved the private sector, it was observed that matters were being dealt on political basis govt-to-govt. Hence they had decided to create a business-to-business platform so that unanimous resolutions were presented before the governments. He said that augmentation of trade was vital to bring peace to the area. He lamented that though Pakistan shared 1500 km long border the contracts for infrastructure building were being taken by India that also exported commodities like pharmaceuticals to Afghanistan. Noting that problems vis-à-vis transit trade commenced when roads were used instead of railways, he said that they would try to get IT solutions for such menaces (for instance by putting chips on the trucks and containers). He said that quantitative restrictions and duty structures would also be worked out.
Khan Jan Alokozai Co-President of PAJCCI board said that two years ago the concerned chambers had come to an agreement that, keeping politics aside, they would work towards augmentation of business that would be beneficial for the people of two countries. Maintaining that both countries mutually benefited from trade he told that Afghanistan imported US $ 3 billion worth of goods from Pakistan that generated US $ 1 billion via Afghan transit. Observing that power and energy were key issues he held that projects like Turkmenistan gas pipeline would help both the economies. Alokozai said that instead of asking the West for investments why not get it from brotherly neighbor Muslim country. He told that PAJCCIs offices started functioning since last month by induction of Secretary General/Executive Director in Karachi and Kabul who would assist businessmen of two countries.
Answering a question Motiwala negated the notion that technical support of the project by British High Commission and Center for International Private Enterprises (CIPE) had anything to do with politics. He told that CIPE was a non-governmental organization that supported all the ventures that endeavored to augment regional trade. Informing that some 80 Pakistani items (including garments, cement, sugar, edible oil, pharmaceuticals etc) were sought after in Afghanistan, he claimed that the volume of exports could be doubled in three years. Noting that hydel-power units and mineral resources of Afghanistan could be supportive to Pakistani economy, he further said that PAJCCI would attempt to revive the ancient Silk-Route for trade with CIS countries.
Source: Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce formed
Pak-Afghan trade can be enhanced to $6b
KARACHI - Zubair Motiwala has been unanimously elected as the first president and Khan Jan Alokozai as co-president of the board of directors of Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI).
This election was held at the first meeting of PAJCCI Tuesday where delegates from Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Chaman Chamber of Commerce, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) came together.
The delegates also elected Usman Bashir Bilour and Engr Daroo Khan from Pakistan and Mohammad Yonass Momand and Haji Atiqullah Mominzada from Afghanistan as two vice presidents from each side.
The board also elected 11 members each of PAJCCI board from both countries and agreed to elect leadership of rotational basis, one year from Pakistan and another from Afghanistan.
PAJCCI will play its role to revive ancient Silk-Route for trade and give reality to the slogan South-South Trade and open the doors to Central Asian countries through Afghanistan.
PAJCCI is a joint collaboration of four chambers, initiated three years ago, to promote bilateral trade and strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
The Chamber will have two offices, one at Karachi and other in Kabul. PAJCCI has started functioning from February 2012 with the induction of secretary general and executive director.
British High Commission and Centre for International Private Enterprises (CIPE) have played a key role in formation and technical support for this Chamber. UK government has provided the core funding of $ 0.2 million each for KCCI and Afghan Chamber.
Speaking on the occasion, Zubair Motiwala said that the existing trade volume of $ 3 billion can be enhanced to $ 6 billion in next three years with the active role of PAJCCI members.
He said the core objective of this Chamber is to facilitate peace prospects and strengthen economic and trade ties between the two brotherly countries. At the same, it will also be a catalyst to easing out any pressure by political and legal framework in the respective countries in the most appropriate manner possible, he added.
Motiwala said that the major benefit of this Chamber will be the saving of losses to national exchequer being caused by smuggling under the garb of Afghan Transit Trade (ATT).
He said that currently, the smuggled goods worth $ 2.5 billion are coming back to Pakistan. About 30 percent of the total containerised cargo under Afghan Transit is not accounted for and therefore, Pakistan is losing billions of rupees as duties.
Khan Jan Alokozai said that PAJCCI will help in boosting trade and curb smuggling. He said that Pakistan can have access to the markets of Central Asian countries via Afghanistan after the formation of this Chamber.
He urged the private sector of Pakistan to come forward and utilise this Chamber for trade promotion. He said that this Chamber will also help Pakistan which is aspiring to get gas and electricity from Turkmenistan via Afghanistan.
Source: Pak-Afghan trade can be enhanced to $6b | The Nation
In presence of media Motiwala thanked Afghan board members for letting Pakistan hold the top slot for the first year. Answering to a question about the legality of this collaboration, he said that competent authority to validate such venture was Commerce Ministry that had granted them license. He further said that PAJCCI was not only cooperation between Chambers of Karachi and Kabul but was a joint collaboration between Karachi Chamber of Commerce (KCCI), Chaman Chamber of Commerce (CCCI), Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Chamber of Commerce (KPCCI) and Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce (ACCI). Clarifying the logic behind this undertaking he maintained that key trade routes were situated in these geographical entities.
Motiwala said when the two governments had involved the private sector, it was observed that matters were being dealt on political basis govt-to-govt. Hence they had decided to create a business-to-business platform so that unanimous resolutions were presented before the governments. He said that augmentation of trade was vital to bring peace to the area. He lamented that though Pakistan shared 1500 km long border the contracts for infrastructure building were being taken by India that also exported commodities like pharmaceuticals to Afghanistan. Noting that problems vis-à-vis transit trade commenced when roads were used instead of railways, he said that they would try to get IT solutions for such menaces (for instance by putting chips on the trucks and containers). He said that quantitative restrictions and duty structures would also be worked out.
Khan Jan Alokozai Co-President of PAJCCI board said that two years ago the concerned chambers had come to an agreement that, keeping politics aside, they would work towards augmentation of business that would be beneficial for the people of two countries. Maintaining that both countries mutually benefited from trade he told that Afghanistan imported US $ 3 billion worth of goods from Pakistan that generated US $ 1 billion via Afghan transit. Observing that power and energy were key issues he held that projects like Turkmenistan gas pipeline would help both the economies. Alokozai said that instead of asking the West for investments why not get it from brotherly neighbor Muslim country. He told that PAJCCIs offices started functioning since last month by induction of Secretary General/Executive Director in Karachi and Kabul who would assist businessmen of two countries.
Answering a question Motiwala negated the notion that technical support of the project by British High Commission and Center for International Private Enterprises (CIPE) had anything to do with politics. He told that CIPE was a non-governmental organization that supported all the ventures that endeavored to augment regional trade. Informing that some 80 Pakistani items (including garments, cement, sugar, edible oil, pharmaceuticals etc) were sought after in Afghanistan, he claimed that the volume of exports could be doubled in three years. Noting that hydel-power units and mineral resources of Afghanistan could be supportive to Pakistani economy, he further said that PAJCCI would attempt to revive the ancient Silk-Route for trade with CIS countries.
Source: Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce formed
Pak-Afghan trade can be enhanced to $6b
KARACHI - Zubair Motiwala has been unanimously elected as the first president and Khan Jan Alokozai as co-president of the board of directors of Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI).
This election was held at the first meeting of PAJCCI Tuesday where delegates from Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Chaman Chamber of Commerce, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) came together.
The delegates also elected Usman Bashir Bilour and Engr Daroo Khan from Pakistan and Mohammad Yonass Momand and Haji Atiqullah Mominzada from Afghanistan as two vice presidents from each side.
The board also elected 11 members each of PAJCCI board from both countries and agreed to elect leadership of rotational basis, one year from Pakistan and another from Afghanistan.
PAJCCI will play its role to revive ancient Silk-Route for trade and give reality to the slogan South-South Trade and open the doors to Central Asian countries through Afghanistan.
PAJCCI is a joint collaboration of four chambers, initiated three years ago, to promote bilateral trade and strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
The Chamber will have two offices, one at Karachi and other in Kabul. PAJCCI has started functioning from February 2012 with the induction of secretary general and executive director.
British High Commission and Centre for International Private Enterprises (CIPE) have played a key role in formation and technical support for this Chamber. UK government has provided the core funding of $ 0.2 million each for KCCI and Afghan Chamber.
Speaking on the occasion, Zubair Motiwala said that the existing trade volume of $ 3 billion can be enhanced to $ 6 billion in next three years with the active role of PAJCCI members.
He said the core objective of this Chamber is to facilitate peace prospects and strengthen economic and trade ties between the two brotherly countries. At the same, it will also be a catalyst to easing out any pressure by political and legal framework in the respective countries in the most appropriate manner possible, he added.
Motiwala said that the major benefit of this Chamber will be the saving of losses to national exchequer being caused by smuggling under the garb of Afghan Transit Trade (ATT).
He said that currently, the smuggled goods worth $ 2.5 billion are coming back to Pakistan. About 30 percent of the total containerised cargo under Afghan Transit is not accounted for and therefore, Pakistan is losing billions of rupees as duties.
Khan Jan Alokozai said that PAJCCI will help in boosting trade and curb smuggling. He said that Pakistan can have access to the markets of Central Asian countries via Afghanistan after the formation of this Chamber.
He urged the private sector of Pakistan to come forward and utilise this Chamber for trade promotion. He said that this Chamber will also help Pakistan which is aspiring to get gas and electricity from Turkmenistan via Afghanistan.
Source: Pak-Afghan trade can be enhanced to $6b | The Nation
