April 6, 2006	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 7, 1427

LAHORE, April 5: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Wednesday joined hands with the UK-Pak Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the promotion of business activities between the two countries. Both the chambers inked a MoU to this effect in the presence of a large number of businessmen from both sides.

LCCI President Mian Shafqat Ali signed the MoU on behalf of the LCCI, while Samiullah Khan represented the UK-Pak chamber.

LCCI senior vice-president Abdul Basit and vice-president Aftab Ahmad Vohra were also present on the occasion.

The president UK-Pak chamber, Samiullah Khan was leading a delegation of businessmen belonging to various trades and sectors.

According to the MoU, both the chambers would work together for improving trade, commerce and economic relations between the two countries.

Both the sides would adopt a new strategy for exchange of information relating to their respective markets. The accord would help facilitate the exchange of trade teams between the two chambers. Both the chambers would now work jointly to identify snags affecting trade between them.

The LCCI and the UK-Pak chamber would also conduct a joint research for exploring possibilities of trade and investment.

Speaking on the occasion Samiullah said that the MoU would go a long way in attracting British investment in Pakistan. He said that Britain was not a new destination for Pakistanis as most of the businessmen had already experienced its different business facets.

In his speech, the LCCI president Mian Shafqat Ali threw light on various issues needed to be tackled on a priority basis for the promotion of trade and investment. —APP