SIALKOT: The new cabinet of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has sworn in. A leading exporter Fazal Jillani was elected unopposed as President of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) during its annual elections. Meanwhile, Mir Alamgir Myere was elected unopposed as SVP and Malik Naseer Akhtar as VP of SCCI. The newly elected SCCI office bearers took the charge of their offices during SCCI’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).
On the other hand, Muhammad Younas was elected unopposed as Chairman of Pakistan Gloves Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PGMEA), while , Abdullah Nadeem was elected as SVC and Sheikh Ejaz Jammu as VC of PGMEA during its annual elections held here.
The newly elected cabinet of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has vowed to continue struggle for ensuring the early completion of the mega projects of establishing an international standard Sialkot Business and Trade Center, Sialkot Tanneries Zone, Sialkot Engineering University and another Small Industrial Estate at Sialkot, enabling the small traders, exporters and venders to establish their own small industrial units there.
The newly elected SCCI Cabinet, today, sworn in during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the auditorium of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here. Sialkot business community’s leader Sheikh Riazud Din took oath from newly elected SCCI President Fazal Jillani, SVP Muhammad Alamgir Myere and VP Malik Naseer Akhtar during this prestigious ceremony largely attended by the Sialkot’s leading business and financial tycoons here.
Addressing the participants, newly elected SCCI President Fazal Jillani said that the exporters of Sialkot are the “Roaming Ambassadors of Pakistan”, who travel all around the world to fetch business and with their personal efforts, the export earnings of Sialkot stand at US $ 1.6 billion annually, which is six percent of the total exports of Pakistan. He said that the Sialkot exporters had been earning precious foreign exchange to the tune of US $ 1.6 billion annual , besides, playing a pivotal role in strengthening the national economy and boosting the national exports as well.
While, delivering his speech, the SCCI outgoing President Dr. Sarfraz Bashir gave a detailed briefing on Sialkot’s unique export culture and Sialkot’s marvelous socio-economic development on self help basis by Sialkot business community. He said that export-oriented Sialkot city has successfully followed the examples of Japan, Germany, Korea, Taiwan and other countries in development of SME culture in Sialkot, as the Sialkot based SMEs have been producing only exportable items and enjoy special status in the international market for its products. Government and other financial institutions are lending support to the export sector and we are foreseeing growth of exports and development of SMEs at a fast pace in Sialkot.
The participants of the meeting were told that the Sialkot is the only export-oriented city of Pakistan, where 99 percent industrial production is meant for exports. The products including Sports Goods, Surgical Instruments, Leather Products, Textile Items, Martial Arts Uniforms & Accessories, Musical Instruments, Knives & Cutlery items and Military Uniform badges etc, produced in Sialkot are exported to all parts of the world. Sialkot made footballs, filed hockey sticks, cricket gears and sports wears are used in Olympics, World Cups, Asian Games and other international events.
Similarly, the surgical instruments are being imported by most of the developed countries from Sialkot-Pakistan for re-export purposes under their own brand names, while,, in leather garments, leather gloves and textile sports wears, Sialkot exporters are competing with other countries in quality.
SCCI Senior Vice President Muhammad Alamgir Myere highly hailed the unique export culture of Sialkot. He said that the Sialkot businessmen also have better awareness about the industrial set up of Sialkot and socio-economical development projects taken in hand by the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
He said that it is high time that both local and foreign investors should see Pakistan with fresh eyes. He added that globalization has brought the countries of the world closure and trade and other barriers are being used out which provide good opportunity for improving bilateral and multilateral trade.
Undoubtedly, universal remedy of the developing world lies in a vibrant and vigorous economy, which alone could address poverty alleviation and un-employment, he narrated.