Pak-India business meet today


Pak-India business meet today

By Amir Zia

Amir Zia

Amir Zia

NEW DELHI: The first of its kind meet between top Pak-India businesspersons and corporate leaders starts here today (Tuesday) with the hope that it will prove as a catalyst to boost trade and improve relations between the two South Asian nuclear powers.

The two-day conference titled “Partners for Peace and Progress” has been organised under the auspices of “Amn Ki Asha” – a joint initiative for peace launched earlier this year by the two most influential media groups of South Asia – the Jang Group of Pakistan and the Times of India.

More than 40 Pakistani delegates on Monday arrived in New Delhi, hoping that enhanced trade and business relations would help create sustainable ties between the two nations, which have a history of conflict and mistrust.

“Amn Ki Asha is a multi-tiered platform of which business and trade remains an important component,” said Amin Hashwani, president Pakistan-India CEOs Business Forum. “It is not a one-off event. It aims to build linkages that will help create durable bonds between the two nations,” he said.

Ravi Dhariwal, chief executive officer of The Times of India Group, told The News that if the business meet helps build a network, which facilitates the people of the two countries to talk to each other, it would be a success.

“Building this network remains very important because it will also influence our politicians,” he said, adding: “If Pakistan and India help generate wealth for each other, provide employment and create an atmosphere of affinity and goodwill, the entire region would benefit.”

On Monday, textile and information and technology experts of the two sides held preliminary “round-table” meetings to discuss possible opportunities and challenges in these two important sectors.

Jehan Ara, president of Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT, said that India has been hoping to increase its IT exports to $150 billion over the next 10 years from the existing $50 billion. “Indian IT sector leaders are looking at Pakistan as a centre to outsource some of their operations and create knowledge centres. Already, the Indians are outsourcing their IT work to Egypt and plan to extend operations to Bangladesh,” Jehan Ara said.

Pakistan, which has a comparatively much smaller, but innovative IT sector, can benefit from cooperation with India, she said. Ameena Saiyid, managing director of the Oxford University Press of Pakistan and President of the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OICCI), said that the business leaders of the two countries could discuss joint strategies to attract foreign investment in the region.

“The OICCI, which has 183 members, can help influence the government, the opposition and the media to play their role to improve relations between the two estranged nations,” she said, adding: “In Pakistan, the OICCI has a lot of clout. Its members contribute 29 per cent to the country’s GNP and 22 per cent to the overall taxes. It will be feasible for both nations if they trade with each other and build their business and economic ties.” “Both India and Pakistan will have to change their mindset for the future of this region and become partners in economic and social development,” she said.




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