The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Metropolitan International University College and Roots International School System to renew discounts for its members and promote industry-academia linkages. For this purpose, an MoU signing ceremony was held at ICCI and in the presence of Chamber President Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, Abdul Rehman Siddiqui, Convener, ICCI MoU Implementation Committee and Waleed Mushtaq, CEO, Metropolitan International University College (MIUC) and Roots International School System (RIS) signed the MoU.

The main objective of the MoU is to strengthen industry-academia linkages, promote entrepreneurship in students and prepare them as per needs of the industrial and business sector. Both institutions agreed to strengthen mutual cooperation for the benefit of the industrial sector and students. MIUC and RIS will provide reasonable discounts in admission fees, tuition fees and security fees to the children of ICCI members and employees. ICCI will help promote entrepreneurship among students of MIUC & RIS, support students in research projects for the benefit of industry and academia and also help in training and skills development of students.

Speaking at the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the youth are the future of Pakistan, so there is a need to foster entrepreneurship in youth so that after completing education, they start their own business, create jobs for others and contribute to strengthen the economy. He said that ICCI will conduct business plan competitions among the students of MIUC and RIS and connect the students who come up with innovative business ideas, with investors so that they can turn their business ideas into viable products and brands. He lauded MIUC & RIS for providing quality education to students and hoped that the renewal of MoU between MIUC & RIS and ICCI would yield beneficial results for the business community and the students.

Waleed Mushtaq, CEO, MIUC & RIS, said that their educational system is playing an effective role in the socio-economic development of the country by providing better education and training to the youth. He said that RIS was started in April 1988 and now it has emerged as the third largest education system in the country with 50 campuses across Pakistan in which over 10,000 students are studying. He said that RIS now wants to develop as a global education system to provide high quality education to the youth of Pakistan as well as other countries. He said that he wants to work with ICCI to strengthen academia-industry so that the students can play an active role in the development of the industrial sector.

Fad Waheed, Senior Vice President ICCI, appreciated the efforts of MIUC & RIS to prepare students on modern lines and said that ICCI will support in the commercialization of business ideas of their students.

Engr. Azharul Islam Zafar, Vice President ICCI said that the Chamber wants to establish an academy in cooperation with RIS which can provide the necessary guidance to the business community to promote businesses as per the requirements of the present day.

UBG Secretary General Zafar Bakhtawari and others also spoke at the occasion and stressed the need of of promoting cooperation between ICCI and RIS in areas of mutual interest.