The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FCCPI) has regularly been organising Export Awards since 1976. The FPCCI Export Awards are an acknowledgement of the excellent performance of those businessmen who do their country a great service by earning valuable foreign exchange every year. I am glad that the Export Awards have today gained international, recognition and are seen as a source of encouragement by our business community. This year the FPCCI is holding 39th Export Trophy Awards and bringing out the souvenir on the occasion.
The global recession has caused widespread business contraction, an increase in unemployment and shrinking opportunities for trade. The large industrialised economies have begun to recover, but for the most part, buyers remain few and far. Pakistan has suffered from the challenges of law and order, energy and gas crisis and increased competition in our traditional markets of Europe and the US. Therefore, the resilience of our business community in such times is truly commendable. I applaud the performance of the Export Award winners on their stellar performance. It is my conviction that our exporters will perform even better in future to accelerate the progress of our economy, which is the need of the time.
I am grateful to the Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for sparing some of his precious time to confer awards to leading exporters which is a reflection of the present government's desire to promote exports.
I am also thankful to all the Office Bearers, Senior Business leaders and Members of the Executive Committee for their contribution in organising this mega annual event.
I wish the winners every success for the future and hope that they will make us proud by keeping the flag of Pakistan flying higher in international markets next year.