April 16, 2002	Tuesday	Safar 2, 1423

KARACHI, April 15: Secretary General, Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Aqeel A. Al-Jassem has urged the businessmen of Islamic countries to bridge the information gap and have exchange of visits on regular basis.

The links between businessmen needs to be strengthened with the support of the government by means of providing conducive environment by giving incentives for trade and industry, he said in a meeting with members of the Site Association of Industry on Monday. Jassem was accompanied by a delegation of ICCI and the consul-generals of Gulf Cooperation Council.

“We are today at crossroads where we need to collectively rely on our strengths and resources,” he said adding “our strengths and potentials are immense and we can bring this economic strength together, it can be a great force.”

The main purpose to visit Site, he said, was to create a greater awareness about the economic activities of the OIC member countries.

The UAE consul-general, Mohammad Abdullah Amir Al-Flasi said the UAE government is ready to issue visa to Pakistani businessmen on the recommendations of the Site, KCCI and FPCCI.

Consul Economic, Consulate General of Indonesia, Tamu Alam said there is a lack of confidence, trust, information and exchange of business delegation between the entrepreneurs of Islamic countries.

He said there is also a wrong perception among foreign investors that Pakistan is a very small market which also lacks any business ethics. He added there is nothing like that here.

First Secretary (Head Mission), Consulate of Tajikistan, Yousuf Babokalonov urged the Site chief to provide list of genuine businessmen so that visa problems could be resolved.

The Chairman, Site Association, Dr Arshad Vohra said Pakistani businessmen are lacking the motivation.