June 17, 2006	Saturday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 20, 1427

ISLAMABAD, June 16: The project of Export Display Centre, a private sector initiative, will be launched very soon to boost exports of this northern region of the country.Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) president Abdul Rauf while presiding over a meeting of the display centre committee on Friday said that the private sector should improve its efficiency and be competitive in price and quality to face the challenges of globalisation and WTO.

He said the chamber was playing its role in supplementing the government’s efforts to promote exports. “The EPB and BoI should enhance interaction with exporters and adopt new and innovative approach to promote export of non-traditional items.”

Mr Rauf said that the committee worked out various options to generate funds through banks, financial institutions, government and by own resources to start this project.

The ICCI chief said it was decided that a large portion of the centre would be allocated to the export-oriented industries from all over the country to display their quality products for the introduction to foreign buyers.

He said the centre would be equipped with video conferencing facility, large conference hall for business meetings, auditorium, and a floor for Research and Development.—APP