960428

_16-member RCCI

trade team for

S-E Asia on May 6

NISAR AHMAD SHEIKH

ISLAMABAD: A 16-member trade and investment delegation of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) is leaving on May 6 for Singapore, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand to explore avenues of mutual trade and investment as part of government's policy of 'look east'.

Led by the Chamber President, Sh. Mohammad Shabbir, this first high-powered private sector delegation will spend over three weeks in meeting businessmen and investors as well as officials of different chambers of commerce and industry.

Meetings of the delegation have already been fixed with the Victorian and Auckland Chambers of Commerce in Australia, Singapore Confederation of Industries, Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, Trade Development Board, Jamadi Commercial Enterprises and Singapore and Jakarta Chamber of Commerce. These meetings will be providing ample opportunities for exploration and discussion on bilateral trade and beneficial investments.

Members of the delegation have areas of interest in garments, leather made-ups, quality furniture, textiles, Pak-made machinery and its fabrication, hoteling, timber and hard-board, automobile and tractor spare parts, lubricant plant, household linen and terry bath robes and banking.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ambassador during a visit to the Chamber expressed confidence that the Chambers of the two countries could play a positive role in furthering the existing economic and business relations between the two countries. He appreciated the RCCI's decision to send a high-level delegation to Indonesia and said that the businessmen of the two countries would be able to identify areas of common interest.