LAHORE: United Business Group (UBG) Chairman Iftikhar Ali Malik has been appointed as the Senior Vice President of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAARC CCI).
The unanimous decision was taken by President Ruwan Edirisinghe and all the Vice Presidents of SAARC CCI keeping in view his selfless services to bring the SAARC nations closer through enhanced trade. Malik who has been serving the business community for the last forty years has never lost an election throughout his career.
Speaking on the occasion, Malik said he was honoured by the colleagues and would continue to serve the purpose by the best of his abilities. “Asian economies are capturing world markets which can be hastened by addressing issues which are hindering the fast growth of the region,” he added.
With the highest growth rate in the world, SAARC continues to gain importance in the global economy but security and political barriers were the main challenges faced by South Asian countries, he added.
He said he will do his best to forge good relations with all SAARC members to achieve the goal of economic integration within the subcontinent, for which removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers was a prerequisite.
“FTAs have become a source of concern, as the underdeveloped countries are getting fewer benefits than developed countries which must be addressed through mutual efforts,” he added.