Karachi: The first ever Commerce & Trade Strategy of Sindh developed after the 18thConstitutionalAmendment shall help generate employment in commercial domains and will provide a strong foundation for effectively reducing poverty, developing market place outlook, attracting investments and boosting growth in line with the vision 2020”.
This was stated by Madam Iffat Malik, Additional Secretary,Industries and Commerce Department, Government of Sindh, while addressing a Workshop for Stakeholders Consultationon the Provincial strategy to promote Commerce & Trade in the Province of Sindh. The Provincial Secretary urged upon the Stakeholders to come forward with their input and suggestions for strengthening the Provincial Government in developing a robust strategy on Commercial Governance with focus on Skill and Entrepreneurial Development.
Mr. AasimTiwana, Director Policy, Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan, in his key note address on the occasion, highlighted the importance of the provincial strategy based on continuous increase in commercial activity in all sectors of industry, agriculture, mining, services, and small and medium enterprises, particularly at a time when the economic survey, worldwide government indicators, world competitiveness index and international doing business surveys were clearly indicating to a decline in socio-economic conditions of Pakistan.
Mr. Tiwana in his presentation referred to the economic and social indicators and international rankings to emphasize that the economic and commercial potential of Sindh can be intensively exploited by capitalizing on ports, nation-wide logistics, linkages on trade route, traditional items and handicrafts and improvement in the sector of agriculture, livestock, mining and a small industries.
Earlier, Mr. Khawaja Muhammad Nauman, President, Employers’ Federation of Pakistan, in his welcome address congratulated the Provincial Industries and Commerce Department for taking the major step towards formulating the first ever provincial strategy for promoting commercial governance and sharing the same with the stakeholders to seek their input before launching the strategy. He stressed upon the need to focus on the concerns of skill development, employment generation, market regulations, productivity improvement and Decent Work Programme while finalizing the details of the provincial strategy and assured that the EFP will extend its full support to the initiative.
The Orientation Workshop on “Integrated Programme on Skill and Entrepreneurial Development in the context of Domestic Commerce – Policy, Strategy and Initiatives” was organized bythe Employers’ Federation of Pakistan in collaboration with the Industries and Commerce Department, Governemnt of Sindh and the Global Compact Network Pakistan.