ICCIA secy general highlights importance of culture, creative economy

KARACHI: Yousef Hasan Khalawi, Secretary General of ICCIA, highlighted the importance of culture and creative economy. He said Islamic world has huge cultural heritage that needs to be promoted.

He stressed upon the need of enhanced trade between the ICCIA member countries and the need for cultural and creative cooperation.

He added that culture, tourism, women empowerment, skills development, people-to-people and B2B cooperation will help unleash the true potential for all the member countries.

Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, President FPCCI, has apprised the business, industry and trade community of Pakistan that 57 member countries of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (ICCIA) has a collective GDP of $ 7 trillion; and, FPCCI will be establishing active, effective and multi-sectorial partnerships with ICCIA to tap this huge alliance to the advantage of Pakistan and its people. We have a lot to gain in terms of exports, FDI, JVs and remittances, he added.

FPCCI and ICCIA jointly organised the seminar on cultural and creative economy; under the theme of “Unlocking the Creative Economy.”

The event marks the launch of a series of 10 spotlight events to be held in Pakistan during 2023.

The objective of the seminar was to create awareness about creative economy and its economic importance; and, to increase the market size for the creative economy products and services. The FPCCI and ICCIA aim to achieve this objective through bringing creative hands, buyers, sourcing agents, traders, e-platforms and service providers together; such as those organisations that are involved in training and development of artists and designers to deliver quality products aligned with the demand as well as consistency of supply chain.

Suleman Chawla, SVP FPCCI, proposed that ICCIA countries should open up more opportunities, sectors and industries for skilled & semi-skilled workforce of Pakistan; including, creative segments of their economies.

It will be a huge favor for the strategically very strong Muslim country; which is battling with ever-persistent trade deficit and challenging circumstances in maintaining adequate foreign exchange reserves (FER), he added.

Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo, immediate past president FPCCI and Advisor to ICCIA, said that Islamic countries should look for value addition to their exports and explore new avenues in the realms of culture, tourism and creative industry’s products. There is a huge demand for such products in Islamic countries due to our religious and cultural bonds and similarities, he added.

Amjad Rafi, FPCCI’s Convener for International Forums, said that FPCCI has established win-win linkages with its counterpart chambers in various Muslim countries with large economies, industrial and infrastructural base, complementary economic competencies vis-a-vis Pakistan and FPCCI has also ensured its productive participation in all trade and economy related regional, sub-regional, ICCIA and other international forums. We are working hard to open up the world of opportunities for Pakistani business community, he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023