More cooperation: ICCI president sets tone for D-8 summit

ISLAMABAD: The world has divided into different trading blocs to adopt common positions on matters of interests and secure favourable trading terms for their respective countries, said Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Zafar Bakhtawari to a meeting of a group of Developing-8 (D-8) country diplomats.  “But D-8 countries, despite having abundant natural resources and comparative advantages, have yet to forge strong unity and economic integration.” The meeting had been called to discuss different proposals for the agenda of the 8th D-8 summit, scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November.  Official representatives from Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, Nigeria, Iran and Bangladesh had attended the meeting.  The ICCI President said that developed countries have achieved phenomenal economic progress by developing high value brands and stressed that D-8 should also focus on the same to get a better market share in international markets.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2012.