24 February 2004	Tuesday	03 Muharram 1425

ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: Muslim countries should show greater cooperation in the fields of trade and investment to ensure maximum utilization of their rich natural resources and potentials.

This was stated by Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) president Aqeel Al Jassem at a seminar on the body's activities and prospects of industrial cooperation between the OIC member countries here on Monday.

The seminar was organized by Expert Advisory Cell (EAC), Ministry of Industries and Production. EAC chief Zahid Aziz and Sohail Altaf of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry also spoke on the occasion.

Mr Jassem, who hails from Kuwait, welcomed the signing of an agreement between Pakistan and Kuwait aimed at increasing trade and investment between the two countries.

He said the ICCI in its capacity as an affiliated organ of the OIC dealt primarily with the private sector of the 57 member countries and acted as a catalyst to promote economic cooperation among them.

The president said the ICCI had been focusing on several initiatives, and its main role was to assist the entrepreneurs of OIC member countries in initiating activities for sustainable industrial and trade development to mitigate possible marganilazation due to negative impacts of globalization and technology gaps.

He said the OIC-ICCI's corporate strategy was to focus on activities that help develop a competitive economy and promote environmentally-sustainable trade and industrial development among the Muslim countries. -APP