Karachi: Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI, has apprised that the apex body has briefed the group of personnel from Foreign Service of Pakistan (FSP) at its Head Office in Karachi – with the aim to orient them on macroeconomic issues & challenges; export promotion requirements of the business community; trade diplomacy and branding of a country’s export offerings on an international scale.
Atif Ikram Sheikh elaborated that the FSP delegation was told that IT & IT-enabled Services; value-added agricultural produce; processed foods; blue economy & infrastructure; processed minerals & chemicals and export of skilled workforce should be given priority in promoting Pakistan’s economic, investment and trade relations.
Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, SVP FPCCI, stressed that foreign services representatives and trade & investment officers of Pakistan should act like salesmen of the country; and, position Pakistan – as a country – a formidable brand in the export markets. We should aim for geographically diverse and multi-sectoral export promotion; coupled with industrialization and import substitution.
SVP FPCCI also briefed on FPCCI’s Vision 2030; with $100 billion exports as the primary objective. This is doable; and, we need the support of foreign office, embassies and consulates of Pakistan around the world for single-country, regional and international exhibitions.
Mr. Magoon also touched upon the recognition extended by FPCCI to the top 20 companies of the country from 20 industries or sector – on the theme of one sector, one winner. The awards were named FPCCI Excellence Awards; and. were given by none other than the highest office of the land; i.e. President of Pakistan. We can say with confidence that these are the top 20 brands from Pakistan which should be promoted internationally. In total, we have identified 72 industries or sectors; and, we will be identifying the top performers of the remaining sectors soon, he added.
Mr. Aman Paracha, VP FPCCI, raised the challenges of cost of doing business and ease of doing business with the foreign service delegates: (i) interest rate remains at 17.5 percent; which makes access to finance impossible or unprofitable (ii) electricity tariffs are the highest in the region (iii) law and order needs to improve for better investor confidence (iv) gas prices need to be rationalized for export-oriented industries.
Mr. Arslan Meer, Programme Director FSP, maintained that the objective to visit FPCCI was to gain practical and grassroots knowledge of the economic challenges, opportunities and potential of Pakistan. We want to train FSP officers with the help of up-to-date and meaningful interactions, he added.
