Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) President Engineer Suhail Bin Rashid said the business community and Punjab government in collaboration with USAID should work towards making comprehensive and organised efforts to ensure the promotion of trade and industry in the province.
He was addressing a delegation of USAID on the Punjab Enabling Environment Project (PEEP).
The FCCI chief underlined the importance of small and medium entrepreneurs in the overall development of Pakistan and said that SMEs must be encouraged to play their role in the fields of dairy, horticulture and livestock.
“Pakistan is the world’s fourth largest milk producing country; we also produce huge quantities of fruits and vegetables but with 40% post-harvest losses,” said Rashid. “Pakistan is the most suitable country for the export of halal meat but unfortunately we have failed to develop these sectors at par with international standards.
“We should develop these sectors in order to increase exports of these items and earn precious foreign exchange.”
Rashid appreciated the efforts of USAID in capacity building and assured full cooperation of the FCCI.
Meanwhile, USAID team leader Muhammad Junaid team explained the objectives of PEEP.
In the first phase, policy and legislative reforms would be enacted, while in the second phase, the capacity building of concerned government departments would be ensured. In the last phase, industrial analysis and feasibility studies would be carried out.
He also responded to questions and queries of participants, adding that the duration of the project would be five years. Junaid also said that the private sector would be involved in achieving the objectives of the project.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 13th, 2014.
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