President, Karachi Chamber of commerce and Industry (KCCI) Haroon Farooki said that the chamber has recently entered into a strategic alliance between the Asian and European chambers to provide business service to the members of the respective chambers.
In his key note address at a seminar on "the path to business success" organised by Intel Pakistan Corporation in collaboration of KCCI, he said the Birmingham chamber, Coventry chamber of UK, Naples Chamber of Italy and KCCI are the partners of this alliance and the project is known as EU Asia TRIPAK project.
He said that through this project we are endeavouring for the capacity building of KCCI and to bring closer the members of the partner chambers and business community of these countries ie UK, Italy and Pakistan.
The president expressed his confidence that the project will also serve as a dynamic image building-cum-marketing tool for Pakistan, to show to the European countries the amount of progress and maturity achieved by the country's economy, and would facilitate transfer of international best practices, upgrading the human resources and industrial executives.
He said that the chamber has already started an Information Technology (IT) enabling programme by upgrading its existing data processing management system. The newly designed IT enabling programme of KCCI aims to provide quick and better services to its members.
Besides upgrading the data base of its members, a telephone service is also planned to be set up, which will help provide instant information on diverse subjects to KCCI its members who may contact the chamber through e-mail or phone. The chamber is also upgrading its website to contain latest information relating to its members, classified and sector-wise list of manufacturers, exporters, importers, service providers and traders and maximum information on taxation policy, trade policy, importable and exportable goods, tariff, national and international fairs and exhibitions and export opportunities in regional and international markets etc.
Business Programmer Head, Intel Pakistan, Junaina Saulat said that small businesses typically set themselves apart from large competitors through superior services and quality and personable relationship with customers.
She said that small and medium enterprise can market their products to a wider audience, increase their company's visibility and compete more successfully with an inviting and effective web site. A fresh and regularly updated web site can augment small and medium enterprise marketing efforts by bringing in new customers and educating them about their products and services.
She said that small and medium enterprises are increasingly faced with managing multiple priorities, tight resources, and customer's demands. The use of right tools of information technology could help small business to meet their demands, she added.
She said that technology can boost small and medium businesses effectively, improving information management and helping companies communication ability by staying connected to suppliers, customers and employees.
She said that technology could help small and medium enterprise to gain new business and enhance customer satisfaction, reducing operating costs, recording financial transactions, store and manage information.