The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Saturday inked a memorandum of understanding to promote trade and industry in the country. Lahore Chamber President Mohammad Ali Mian and his Srahad Chamber of Commerce and Industry counterpart, Haji Mohammad Asaf, signed the MoU.
Vice President SCCI, Mohammad Nawaz Khan, its former President Liaqat Ahmad Khan, LCCI Senior Vice President Mian Muzaffar Ali and Vice President Shafqat Saeed Piracha and a large number of executive committee members of both the chambers were also present on the occasion.
After the signing of the MoU, the Standing Committees of both the chambers would evolve unified strategy on the issues of common interest. Both the chambers would share and exchange all trade-related data with each other for increasing competitiveness of goods and reducing cost of doing business.
The Lahore Camber of Commerce and Industry and Sarhad Chamber of Commerce will cooperate in preparation of proposals for excise and taxation matters, budgetary recommendations and other national policies. Both the Chambers would conduct joint research studies to strengthen industries in Punjab and NWFP.
Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI President Mohammad Ali Mian said that the LCCI and SCCI would forward joint budget proposals to the federal government for their incorporation in federal budget. He assured the SCCI president that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry would make all out efforts for ensuring investment in ROZs.
He said that at this point of time the harmony between the Chambers is of special significance and it would help solve the issues being faced by the business community of the country. He said that the LCCI and SCCI could contribute in development of mutual trust and understanding of problems relating to trade and industry located in both the provinces.
He said that it was a dire need to take collective stands to safeguard the interest of business community. He said that the LCCI had already signed MoUs with Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal and Sargodha Chambers Commerce to serve the business community in a much better way.
While briefing the SCCI delegation about the working of the LCCI, Mian said the LCCI had always tried to live up to the expectations of member firms in resolution of their problems.
The LCCI is working on Open Door Policy to get the issues solved more efficiently. Asaf said the harmony between the LCCI and SCCI would give further boost to the inter chamber interaction and cement the relations among the business community of the two important provinces.