July 05, 2006	Wednesday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 8, 1427

ISLAMABAD, July 4: The 36th executive committee meeting of the Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) begins in Kathmandu on Wednesday with the commitment to promote intra-regional trade and business relations to the maximum level.

There are 17 items on the agenda of the meeting, including the proposals for setting up of Saarc Chamber’s Transport Council and organisation of a Saarc Fair in Karachi in 2007, said the former president FPCCI Tariq Sayeed, who is life member of the Saarch Chamber, before leaving for Kathmandu.

He was accompanied by the FPCCI members Ebrahim Panwala, Luqman Yahya and Shazada Alam.The delegation after participating in the meeting will visit Delhi for some important business meetings to promote trade between India and Pakistan.

Tariq said that the platform of Saarc Chamber was being activated on the pattern of other chambers under the umbrella of other trade blocs.

The idea behind the formation of the Saarc Chamber's transport council is to facilitate transport services amongst the member countries of the region, which will positively affect the promotion of business.

“This proposal has come from Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is likely to be accepted in the meeting,” he added. The executive committee meeting will also decide the holding of Saarc Fair in Karachi next year.—APP