"The Roadmap for future intra-trade between the members of the D-8 organisation is being prepared and it is expected that it would lead to doubling of the trade to over $60-70 billion within ten years. The present global trade of the eight countries is over $750 billion and the combined population is over 900 million.
"Dr Dipo Alam, Secretary General of D-8 organisation disclosed this during a meeting with Majyd Aziz, President and members of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry at KCCI. Dr Alam, who is from Indonesia and was on a short visit to Karachi, moreover added that although this decade old organisation is primarily on a government-to-government level, the new thinking is to involve the private sector and focusing it more as private sector oriented.
He said that the eight Muslim countries, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey have signed the Preferential Trade Agreement among themselves although it has not yet been ratified by all countries. He said that D8 countries could soon take advantage of trade with Asean countries through Malaysia and Indonesia.
He said visa, custom, and shipping agreements have already been reached within the D-8 membership. Dr Alam who was accompanied by senior Indonesian diplomat, Mr Hikmat Moeljawan, also stated that a process of Sectoral Dialogue is being initiated such as Jewellery development, fruits and fisheries, large-scale manufacturing investment, etc which would be done through 15 working groups.
Earlier, Majyd Aziz in his presentation called for setting up of a designated group of the largest Chambers in each country and that this chambers group could become the focal point in each country and set up a D-8 Cell in each Chamber.
He said that common exhibitions, position papers, and proposals could be done through this Group. Moreover, a continuous flow of information and exchanges of delegations could be undertaken. He offered the services of Karachi Chamber in this regard. He also presented the progress of the My Karachi exhibition which would be held by KCCI on June 01-03.
Dr Alam appreciated the proposal of KCCI and advised that the Chamber should present a formal proposal that would be deliberated in the D-8 headquarters and a decision taken soon. He also suggested that the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs be kept informed about the proposal too. Mr Hikmat Moeljawan in his remarks assured KCCI that the Indonesian Consulate General in Karachi would continue to provide maximum co-operation and support to KCCI and that is why Indonesian firms have been the first to reserve stalls and participate in the My Karachi exhibition. Later mementos were presented to the Secretary General.-PR
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