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Islamabad, November 17, 2013 (PPI-OT): A US delegation comprising Mr. Ken Morse Advisor to US President on Entrepreneurship and Founding Managing Director of MIT Entrepreneurship Center, Mr Jason Pontin, Editor in Chief MIT Technology Review, Ms. Deirdre Coyle co CEO of All World Network along with Mr. Azhar Rizvi Chairman FPCCI Standing Committee on Innovation visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss the importance of entrepreneurship development for Pakistan.
Addressing the business community, Mr. Ken Morse, Advisor to US President on Entrepreneurship stressed that Pakistan should focus on encouraging its youth towards entrepreneurship because if left unattended and unemployed, youth is a recipe of disaster for the country.
He said entrepreneurship offers best option to Pakistan for engaging its youth in productive activities and to create more jobs. He said Pakistan should celebrate entrepreneurship day to creates is better awareness in society and motivate its youth for becoming entrepreneurs.
He said 65 percent of small hotels and single person stores in US are owned by South Asians, which shows they have great potential for this profession. He assured that US is ready to cooperate with Pakistan for entrepreneurship development in the country to put it on the path of sustainable economic growth.
Shaban Khalid, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry briefed the delegation about the ICCI activities for entrepreneurship and youth development. He said ICCI has formed a Young Entrepreneurs Forum (YEF) to focus on encouraging youth towards entrepreneurship. YEF organizes workshops, trainings and mentorship programs for youth development as well as promotes the networking of young entrepreneurs at local and international level.
YEF recently organized an Indo-Pak Young Entrepreneurs Bilateral at Islamabad to promote linkages in youth of both countries. Both sides also signed a joint statement which also declared to establish a Peace University to promote people-to-people relations between the two countries. We are now planning to take a women entrepreneur delegation to India.
Mr. Jason Pontin, Editor in Chief of MIT Technology Review said entrepreneurship has been identified as one of the most important vehicles for economic wellbeing of individuals and communities and added that MIT Enterprise Forum Pakistan (MITEFP) has been established to develop an entrepreneurial eco-system in Pakistan.
He was of the view that fostering entrepreneurship in Pakistan would create greater employment, growth and competitiveness in the country and engage youth in economic activities.
He said we are planning to start MIT Technology Review in Pakistan and its publication will highlight Pakistani entrepreneurs’ success stories at international level giving them an international exposure. For this purpose, we are looking for the support of local publishers, partners, sponsors and advertisers. The magazine would be a great platform to showcase the business and technology potential of Pakistan to outside world.
Ms. Deirdre Coyle co, Chief Executive Officer of All World Network said Pakistan has great potential for entrepreneurship and we are trying to put Pakistani companies on global stage by announcing the ranking of 100 fastest growing companies of Pakistan. Pakistan 100 will enable them to get international recognition.
We want to show the world that Pakistan is very much open to business and help change perception about it. She was hopeful that joining the All World ranking, Pakistani companies will get global visibility, attract new customers, investors and talent all over the world and become part of a prestigious group of successful entrepreneurs.
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