Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) has stressed upon increasing cooperation among South Asian countries to promote direct ties and collaboration for opening new avenues of bilateral cooperation. 

Zahid Maqbool, President, ICCI on his return from India after participating in the 37th World Marketing Congress on Marketing Opportunities and Strategies for South Asia., said that promoting collaboration among South Asian countries including Pak-India and developing business channels will translate into the better economic cooperation, stability and people welfare of the region.

He said there is a need of economic integration among South Asian countries to accelerate the trade and economic activities. He stressed that level playing must be provided to reap the benefits of each other markets removing tariff and non-tariff barriers and to create win-win situation.

President said that through dialogue process between India and Pakistan, an environment of mutual trust and confidence must be improved that would lead to enhance two-way trade. He hoped for better outcome of expected meeting between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan.

He also emphasized for people to people contact and exchange of trade delegations among the South Asian countries and to pool the exiting resource and potential to develop strong linkages with each other. He said that South Asian countries are blessed with a number of resources which must be exploited to make it a economically strong block. 

He also visited Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM)  and signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the enhancement of trade activities through exchange of business delegations and trade related information between the two countries.