Government asked to cooperate to improve industry’s competitiveness

Islamabad, January 16, 2017 (PPI-OT): Khalid Malik, Senior Vice President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said that enhancing the productivity, quality and innovation (PQI) was vital to improve competitiveness of industry and called upon the government to cooperate with private sector in implementation of PQI framework that would make Pakistan a globally competitive country. He said government should arrange international experts that should help the local industry in improving its competitiveness. He was talking to a delegation of PQI Secretariat that visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by Dr. Woon Kin Chung, Asian Productivity Organization Expert and former CEO of Singapore Productivity Centre. Mr. Arsyoni Buana, Program Officer of APO, Syed Salman Masood Manager Special Initiatives and Muhammad Zafarullah Acting Manager Training of National Productivity Organization were also present at the occasion.

Khalid Malik said according to Global Innovation Index 2016, Pakistan was ranked 119th amongst 128 countries and this disappointing situation called for urgent formulation of policies that should encourage productivity, quality and innovation in private sector. He said that private sector was taking initiatives to improve competitiveness by bringing in latest machinery and technology and added that government support was key requirement for implementation of PQI framework. He said that there was a need to develop a synergy between government, private sector and academia to achieve PQI objectives. He was optimistic that PQI implementation would accelerate industrialization, improve economic growth and make Pakistan an attractive destination for local and foreign investment.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Woon Kin Chung, APO Expert said that he has been engaged by the Government of Pakistan for developing Productivity, Quality and Innovation (PQI) Framework and the purpose of his visit to ICCI was to take the input of private sector to accomplish this task in consultation with all stakeholders. He also discussed the role and future perspective of the private sector in PQI framework.

Syed Salman Masood, Manager Special Initiatives, NPO said that Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms in collaboration with NPO has taken the initiative for development of Pakistan PQI Framework and multiple consultative meetings were being organized to analyse the present situation of Pakistan. He said relevant stakeholders from public and private sector would be engaged in developing the PQI framework.

Tahir Ayub Vice President ICCI, Zahid Maqbool, Naeem Siddiqui, Talha Mehmood and others also at the occasion and stressed that close cooperation of the government with private sector was necessary to improve the overall competitiveness of the country.

For more information, contact:
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI)
Chamber House, Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat Road,
Mauve Area, G-8/1,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +9251 225 0526, 2253145, 8432676
Fax: +9251 225 2950
Email: icci@brain.net.pk
Website: www.icci.com.pk