October 9, 2013

Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey offers free stalls to Pakistani businessmen at Turkey World Trade Bridge 2013

Lahore, October 09, 2013 (PPI-OT): The Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey (TUSKON) is organizing a new track of its world famous series of international business summits, Turkey World Trade Bridge (TWTB), on November 25-26, 2013 in Istanbul which will cover sectors of Food, Agriculture, and Fast Moving Consumer Goods, and Related Machinery.

TWTB 2013 possesses the most essential characteristics of trade bridge concept such as product exhibition, scheduled B2B meetings, historical and cultural tour of Istanbul, factory and company visits and optional business trips to different parts of Turkey.

This was revealed by Secretary General Pak-Turk Businessmen Association Taner Kocyigit while speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari, Senior Vice President Mian Tariq Misbah, Vice President Kashif Anwar, Sahir Reshid, Chairman Pak-Turk Businessmen Association, former LCCI President Basher A Baksh were prominent among the speakers while Executive Committee Members Naseeb Ahamd Saifi and Haji Muhammad Akram were also present in the meeting.

The Secretary General Pak-Turk Businessmen Association said that TWTB 2013 is a golden opportunity for Pakistani businessmen because it would enable them to interact with their counterparts in Europe, Africa, Britain, Central Asia and SAARC countries.

It is of special significance to Pakistani businessmen in the sense that they would not be charged for participating in the exhibition while all other exhibitors including Turkish businessmen would have to pay 1000 Euros per stall per company.

It would also be providing Pakistani businessmen a chance to exhibit their products to the whole world under one roof. The TWTB 2013 has been designed in a way that it would benefit the exhibitors to the maximum.

“They would not only be creating new buyers but would also be getting a lot of knowledge about the technology being used in the developed world.” Both the importers and exporters could avail this opportunity to enhance their businesses, he added.

It would particularly be helping the businessmen dealing in Food, Agriculture, and Fast Moving Consumer Goods, and Related Machinery. He, however, made it clear that all the participants from Lahore would need a recommendation letter from the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI president Engineer Sohail Lashari said that Turkey is not only a gateway to Europe but also one of the fastest growing economies therefore it offers a lot to Pakistani businessmen interested to enter EU market. “It would increase Pakistani business community liaison with their global counterparts besides giving them an access to unexplored and untapped business destinations of the world.”

The LCCI president said that it goes without saying that for the members of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, this exhibition can provide great opportunity to interact with Turkish businessmen.

The location of the Trade Bridge 2013 has significant value in terms of being so near to Europe. It is expected that private sector representatives of many European countries will be participating in this event, so in a way, it can be a great venue to have direct interaction with them. I will encourage the members of LCCI to consider this opportunity.

Engineer Sohail Lashari said that although the requirements to obtain visa for Turkey are not easy but the joint recommendation to Turkish Embassy in Islamabad by LCCI and Pak-Turk Businessmen Association (PTBA) would help address this to a great extent.

For more information, contact:
Shahid Khalil
Information Department
Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)
11-Shahrah-e-Aiwan-e-Tijarat,
Lahore -54000, Pakistan
Tel: +9242 111 222 499
Fax: +92 42 636 8854

October 9, 2013

Islamabad and Chakwal Chamber of Commerce and Industries vow to work together for economic development of both regions

Islamabad, October 09, 2013 (PPI-OT): Chakwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a dinner in honour of Shaban Khalid, newly elected President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Zafar Bakhtawari, outgoing President ICCI. Prominent businessmen of Islamabad and Chakwal regions attended the dinner. Both Chambers vowed to work together for the economic development of Islamabad and Chakwal regions.

Speaking at the occasion, Shaban Khalid, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that business community should get united for solution of its problems and better promotion of trade and economic activities.

He said by developing unity, they could have a far better chance to influence government’s policies in favour of smooth growth of business and industry. He assured that ICCI would continue to strengthen its relations with Chakwal Chamber of Commerce for the welfare of entrepreneurs of both regions.

Zafar Bakhtawri, outgoing President ICCI said that the establishment of industrial estate, Nila Dullah Interchange and Chakwal CCI Complex are very important projects and called upon the government to provide its full support for their early completion as they have the potential to unleash a new wave of economic development in District Chakwal.

Sahibzada Abdul Qudus Naqshbandi, founding President, Chakwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry congratulated Shaban Khalid on his election as President ICCI and said that growing relations between Islamabad and Chakwal Chambers would play a positive role in promoting business and industrial activities in both regions.

Many other business leaders including Munawar Mughal, Qazi Akbar and Chaudhry Shezhad Sadaat also spoke on the occasion and said that businessmen are the backbone of economy, but their significant role has not been properly acknowledged as yet. However, they can resolve their problems more easily by adopting unanimous stand on major issues.

M/s. Khalid Mehmood Chaudhry Senior Vice President ICCI, Khalid Javed, Mian Shaukat Masud, Khalid Malik, Basir Daud, Mehmood Ahmad Warraich, Muzzammil Sabri, Baber Chaudhry, Khwaja Muhammad Arif, Khurram Kamran, Shahid Haroon, Sh. Hasnain Mehdi, Khawaja Nauman Saleem and many other businessmen were present at the occasion.

For more information, contact:
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Chamber House, Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat Road,
Mauve Area, G-8/1,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +9251 225 0526 and 225 3145
Fax: +9251 225 2950
Email: icci@brain.net.pk
Website: www.icci.com.pk

October 9, 2013

Islamic Microfinance should be introduced internationally: Minister of Social Development Bahrain

Dubai, October 09, 2013 (PPI-OT): Islamic Microfinance is an effective tool for the poverty alleviation and it should be introduced around the globe to state an effective policy for ultimate poverty alleviation from the world, these views were stated by Dr. Fatima Mohamed Yousif Al-Balooshi, Minister (Ministry of Social Development – Bahrain) as a Chief Guest in the 3rd Global Islamic Microfinance Forum (GIMF) held on 6th to 8th October, 2013 at Dusit Thani Hotel, Dubai in which delegates from more than 30 countries participated actively and this Forum was organized and conducted by AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics (CIBE).

She also added that Islamic Microfinance should be presided and supported by the Government in different countries of the world to promote the Islamic Microfinance Institutions. She also admired the endeavors of AlHuda CIBE at the inauguration of 3rd Global Islamic Microfinance Forum on 6th Oct, 2013 and also proposed to conduct the 4th Global Islamic Microfinance Forum in Bahrain.

Muhammad Zubair Mughal (CEO – AlHuda CIBE), addressing to the Forum, said that Poverty is increasing in the Muslim countries rapidly and consequently the half of the world poverty has, approximately, been confined to the Muslim countries in the current age.

The involvement of interest in micro financing is one of the major causes behind this phenomenon and that is why Muslims hesitate to avail microfinance facility. If Islamic Microfinance is not introduced resolving this issue, the world’s poverty will increase extraordinarily.

He said that the forum aimed at gathering all the Islamic Microfinance Institutions at single platform, to streamline the policies for poverty reduction, to promote the Research and Education in Islamic Microfinance industry and to enhance its outreach on global canvas.

He said that current facts to the failure of microfinance system require an alternative and prudent Islamic Microfinance system to the world to enhance the financial inclusion globally and ultimate global economic prosperity.

Addressing to the forum Mr. Mr. Hamdan Mohamed Al Murshidi (President and Chairman of the Board, Arab Business Club, United Arab Emirates) said that there is no other argument to address poverty through Islamic Microfinance as it is the ultimate solution to this problem and also he committed with his reward less services to promote Islamic Microfinance globally.

While Mr. Amjad Saqib (Executive Director – Akhuwat) said that Islamic Microfinance is a Hope for the Poor which they (poor) are looking forward to resolve their Social and Economic problems, so Islamic Microfinance should be promoted globally. He, by presenting Akhuwat as a case study, figured out that there are about 380000 families benefitting through Qarz e Hasana from Akhuwat. Meanwhile its portfolio has crossed PKR. 5 billion with an increasing trend day by day.

The forum was attended by Researchers, Scholars and Islamic Microfinance practitioners including: Justice (R) Khalil Ur Rehman (Shariah Advisor – AlBaraka Islamic Bank, Chairmen – Punjab Halal Development Agency – Govt. of Pakistan), Mufti Aziz Ur Rehman (Manager-Shariah, Mawarid Finance – Dubai), Dr. Ajaz Ahmed Khan (Microfinance Advisor, CARE International UK), Mr. Atef Ebrahim (Chief Executive Officer, Family Bank – Bahrain), Mr. Zeinoul Abedien Cajee (Founding CEO/ Management Board, National Awqaf Foundation of South Africa), Mr. Mamode Raffick Nabee Mohomed (Founder/ Secretary, Al Barakah Multi-purpose Co-operative Society Limited – Mauritius), Ms. Rehab Lootah (Managing Director – Mawarid Consultancy Dubai – U.A.E), Mr. Mohamed El Mehdi Zidani (Author – An Islamic Analysis of the Grameen Bank and Director Baraka Editions – France), Mr. Pervez Nasim (Chairmen and CEO, Ansar Financial and Development Corporation – Canada), Mr. Abdul Samad (Shariah Advisor, The Bank of Khyber – Pakistan), Mr. Humayun Saeed Jamshed (Senior Director – Islamic Banking and Finance, SAB – France), Mrs. Thamina Anwar (Founder and CEO, Awqaf New Zealand Mrs. Helena Lutege (Founder and Managing Director, BELITA Fund – Tanzania), Mr. Ali Tariq (Executive Director, Iraqi Microfinance Network – Iraq), Dr. Mohammed Kroessin (Global Microfinance Advisor – UK), Mufti Barkatulla (Sharia Advisor, Islamic Bank of Britain, London, UK) and some other prestigious international speakers addressed in this forum.

For more information, contact:
Shaguftta Parveen
Manager Communication
AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics
192 Ahmed Block, New Garden Town,
Lahore – Pakistan
Cell: + 92 31 2222 6 111
Ph: + 92 (0)42 – 35913096 – 8, 38407850
Fax: + 92 (0)42 – 5913056
Email: shaguftta.perveen@alhudacibe.com
Web: www.alhudacibe.com

October 9, 2013

Mumtaz Khan Manais appointed Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman Punjab Agriculture and Meat Company

Lahore, October 09, 2013 (PPI-OT): Renowned agriculturist Mumtaz Khan Manais has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Vice Chairman Punjab Agriculture and Meat Company (PAMCO). Mumtaz Khan Manais has been on ASF’s and PAMCO Board of Directors. A leading agriculturist with more than three decades of active involvement towards development of agriculture in Pakistan he was bestowed country’s highest civil award “The Tamgha-e-Imtiaz” by Government / President of Pakistan in 2007 in recognition of his contributions towards national agriculture. His orchards, livestock and dairy farms, Fish farms and fields are managed with best farm practices and have always been on hand with all hospitalities for students of Agricultural Universities and Agri Colleges as practical learning grounds; a fact that was endorsed by The Governor of Punjab who declared Mumtaz Khan Manais’ livestock farm to be officially affiliated with Faculty of Livestock at Bahauddin Zakariya University of Multan as the country’s very first example of such an affiliation.

The FAO’s gold medals to his credit for edible oil crop production (sunflower) in 1995 and for Livestock production in 2005 are vivid confirmations of international recognition of his efforts. Meanwhile, the LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari, Senior Vice President Mian Tariq Misbah, Vice President Kashif Anwar and former LCCI President Mian Shafqat Ali have congratulated Mumtaz Khan Manais for assuming the office of Vice Chairman and CEO PAMCO and hoped that he would utilize all his abilities to reactivate PAMCO for the promotion of agriculture sector in the country.

October 9, 2013

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appreciates Turkish Company’s willingness to invest in Pakistan

Islamabad, October 09, 2013 (PPI-OT): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said that Pakistan offers a host of areas for investment with ideal economic returns for foreign investors.

The Prime Minster said this while meeting a Turkish delegation led by Mr Orguz Carmikli, Vice Chairman of the leading Turkish company NUROL Group, at PM’s House this morning.

Pakistan’s priority sectors for investment include hydel and coal power plants, Karachi-Lahore Motorway and infrastructure development and NUROL must benefit from the huge business and investment opportunities, said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan faces power shortages and the present government is dedicated to mitigate the same by exploiting innovative and cheap energy resources. He added that Pakistan Power Park at Gaddani offers a golden opportunity to invest in coal based power plants.

Mr Orguz Carmikli expressed his company’s readiness to invest in Gaddani Power Park, Basha and Bonji dams and Karachi-Lahore Motorway. He was pleased to know that the federal Government would provide sovereign guarantees for the construction of these projects. He further said that he was satisfied with Pakistan’s legal frame work for foreign investment.

The Premier noted that utilizing NUROL’s expertise in infrastructure development, the company may construct motorways on BOT basis. He further said that the company must benefit from Pakistan’s potential market of over a 180 million people.

The Prime Minister had met Mr. Orguz Carmikli during his recent visit to Turkey. The company is focused on construction of motorway, dams and hydro-electric power plants and has recently constructed Gebze-Izmir Motorway including world’s 3rd largest Izmat Bay suspension bridge at a cost of $ 9.5 billion.

For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
Tel: +9251 925 2323 and +9251 925 2324
Fax: +9251 925 2325 and +9251 925 2326
Email: piopid@gmail.com

October 9, 2013

Xpress Money’s supports Pakistani Peace Walker’s

Karachi, October 09, 2013 (PPI-OT): Xpress Money, the world’s most dependable money transfer brand, as part of its global CSR campaign H.O.P.E, felicitated Kharlzada Kasrat Rai for his 117-day peace walk from Karachi, Pakistan to Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Kharlzada Kasrat Rai started his journey on June 07, 2013 and reached KSA on October 01, 2013. Xpress Money’s CSR platform H.O.P.E stands for ‘Helping Our People and Environment’ and focuses on inclusive social intervention and community support programs across the world.

Kharlzada Kasrat Rai, holder of two world records and three national records, aims to promote peace between nations across the globe. He started from Karachi and travelled through Afghanistan, Iran, Jordan and finally concluded his expedition in Saudi Arabia, after a journey of 6387 kilometers. Xpress Money felicitated him with a memento during a ceremony at the Pakistan Consulate in Jeddah, KSA.

Appreciating his effort, Mr. Rizwan Hamdani, Country Manager – Pakistan, Xpress Money said, “With all the unrest and distress that the world faces today, it is remarkable to see a single person take on an expedition in hope of peace and harmony in the world. At Xpress Money, we believe in rising above materialistic needs by helping causes such as these that aspire for a better tomorrow. We salute Mr. Kharlzada Kasrat Rai’s perseverance and are happy to be associated with this noble initiative.”

For more information, contact:
Alisha Fernandes
Xpress Money
Email: alisha.fernandes@xpressmoney.com
Tell: +971 2 652 1317

October 9, 2013

Sindh Government and Turkish Government agree to exchange more business oriented delegations to enhance trade volume

Karachi, October 09, 2013 (PPI-OT): The Sindh Government and Turkish Government agreed to exchange more business oriented delegations to enhance trade volume among them. This was discussed and decided during meeting of H.E Mr. Bobur Girgin, newly designated Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey, who called on Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah at C.M House today. The Consul General of Turkey at Karachi was also present during the meeting.

Talking to Mr. Bobur Girgin, the Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that we here have lot of untapped resources which are yet to be utilized. He said that Sindh Government was very keen to have alternate energy power as such a 50 megawatt wind power project has already been awarded to a Turkish company, that according to him has promised to enhance its capacity up to 100 M.W. besides we have huge reserves of qualitative coal and we have planned to use these resources for generation of electricity, the Chief Minister added.

The Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah invited the entrepreneur (industrialist) of Turkey for their investment here at Sindh for the betterment of people of Sindh and their country. The Chief Minister also expressed gratitude for resources and relief that was provided by the Prime Minister of Turkey for the flood effected of Sindh Province.

He said that the Turkey Prime Minister visited Pakistan in difficult time, and he visited flood affected areas of Sindh, even addressed the Public gathering and announced a big housing project for the flood affected (Shelter less) people. He said that the project is completed and the allotment to the most affected people will be made purely on merit basis.

H.E Mr. Bobur Girgin, newly designated Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey, while talking to the Chief Minister Sindh expressed his interest in the development of economic and social relationship.

He said that the Businessmen of Turkey are very much interested to increase the volume of trade with Pakistan and its provinces like Sindh. He agreed for exchanging business delegations and bringing investment from his century to Sindh to exploit the untapped resources.

Later, the Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah presented traditional gifts of Sindhi Caps and Ajraks and a set of books on the history of Sindh/ Mohen-Jo-Deri to H.E Mr. Bobur Girgin designated Ambassador of Turkey.

For more information, contact:
Mr. Allah Bachayo Memon
Press Secretary
Chief Minister House
Tel: +9221 99202019
Cell: +92300-3524057 (Ext: 336)