960407

EPB agrees to

help in setting up

R&D section

in FPCCI

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) has agreed to extend maximum help in setting up a full-fledged Research and Development Section (R&D) in the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).

The assurance was given by Mian Habibullah, Chairman, EPB and Minister of State when he called on Senator Ilyas Bilour, President, FPCCI at the Federation House here this morning to congratulate him on his unanimous election as FPCCI president.

During the meeting the FPCCI President requested for financial assistance from the EPB to establish a full-fledged R&D Section in FPCCI so that a data bank could be developed and trade and economic policies could be analysed properly for the benefit of both the business community and the government.

Senator Ilyas Bilour informed the EPB Chairman that Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry has invited FPCCI to send a delegation to participate in the joint meeting of Pakistan-Korea Economic Cooperation Committee. Besides, invitations received from Malaysia and Indonesia to send trade delegations. The FPCCI President requested Mian Habibullah to jointly lead the FPCCI delegation to three countries in October this year. The EPB Chairman acceded to the request.

The FPCCI President also informed that FPCCI was planning to organise a Seminar on Pakistan-India Trade so that concrete proposals could be formulated for submission to the government. Mian Habibullah welcomed the proposed seminar and assured that EPB would provide a Speaker to present a paper in relation to exports. The FPCCI President agreed to hold the seminar at Karachi and Lahore as suggested by EPB Chief.