Chairman of the United Business Group (UBG) of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Iftikhar Ali Malik has been appointed as Senior Vice President of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The unanimous decision was taken by the President Ruwan Edirisinghe and all the vice presidents of SAARC Chamber keeping in view of his selfless services to bring the SAARC nations closer through enhanced trade. He has served as President Lahore Chamber of Commerce, President FPCCI and worked as Vice President of SAARC Chamber for a decade.
According to the FPCCI spokesman, Iftikhar Ali Malik said the Asian economies are capturing world markets which can be hastened by addressing issues which are hindering the fast growth of the region. With the highest growth rate in the world, SAARC continues to gain importance in the global economy but security and political barriers as the main challenges faced by South Asian countries, he added.
He promised to do his best to forge good relations with all SAARC members with an aim to achieve the goal of economic integration within the subcontinent for which removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers is a prerequisite. FTAs have become a source of concern as the underdeveloped countries are getting fewer benefits than developed countries which must be addressed through mutual efforts, he added.