Indo-Pak Economic conference...Moving towards a 'win-win' situation
By Imran Maqbool
Top businessmen and women from India and Pakistan are expected to gather in Lahore on May 7-8, 2012 for 'Dividends', the Indo-Pakistan Economic Conference organised by Aman ki Asha (AKA), the peace initiative of the Times of India and the Jang Group of Pakistan launched on Jan 1, 2010.
Over the past two years, Aman ki Asha has been bringing together people from various backgrounds in order to help formulate a private sector policy for sustainable peace and cooperation. These efforts have helped strengthen bilateral linkages various spheres of life, including arts, culture, business and trade. Publicising the outcomes of these meetings has gone a long way towards putting 'peace' into the public discourse and sensitising policy makers about the urgency and viability of improving Indo-Pak relations.
'Dividends' is a follow-up to the First Aman ki Asha Indo-Pak Business Meet, held in New Delhi in May 2010 to discuss ways and means to develop bilateral trade and economic ties. Since then, many business leaders have been participating in ongoing meetings organised by Aman ki Asha in various sectors to take forward these ideas.
The forthcoming conference in Lahore is expected to further this agenda, and push policy makers of both countries to work towards harnessing existing synergies for the benefit of the South Asian region.
The President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Adi B. Godrej will lead the large Indian contingent, joining some 250 businesspersons and corporate leaders from Pakistan at the conference.
The conference programme includes seven sessions spreading over two days in which experts from both sides will participate in detailed discussions on a policy framework for Indo-Pak trade, prospects of opening up Indian markets for Pakistan, potential benefits of permanent peace, policies for attracting bilateral investment, banking relations, and other key issues.
The conference is expected to lay down a roadmap for enhancing Indo-Pak economic cooperation in order to realise the trade potential. It is also expected to remove any misperceptions that still exist regarding opening of full-fledged trade with India. Some lobbies in Pakistan believe that granting Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India and opening up unrestricted trade will have a negative impact on domestic industries. However, according to experts, full-fledged trade will be beneficial not just for both countries but for the entire region.
Empirical evidence, based on an examination of specific sectors, indicates that India-Pakistan trade is a 'win-win' situation, says Dr Ishrat Husain, Dean of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi, in a research paper titled 'Prospects and Challenge for Increasing India-Pakistan Trade' (Atlantic Council, 2012).
As he notes, India's middle class of approximately 300 million people, with rising purchasing power that matches that of southeastern Europe, far outnumbers Pakistan's entire population, not to mention its middle class of approximately 30 million. "Even a 10 percent share of the Indian middle-class market would double the market size for Pakistani companies and businesses."
Granting MFN status to India will benefit Pakistan, and a free trade agreement will further increase those benefits.
"The potential advantages of trade liberalisation for Pakistan appear to be great," Dr Husain wrote. "Going well beyond the immediate creation of trade flows, dismantling tariff and non-tariff barriers would also boost productivity and economic growth, and promote broader regional cooperation in South Asia in all areas".
'Dividends', the Second Aman ki Asha Indo-Pak Business Meet is expected to facilitate this path.
The writer is an Assistant Editor, The News
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
A forthcoming meeting of top Indian and Pakistani businessmen and women provides a historic opportunity to reinvigorate trade relations
By Imran Maqbool
Top businessmen and women from India and Pakistan are expected to gather in Lahore on May 7-8, 2012 for 'Dividends', the Indo-Pakistan Economic Conference organised by Aman ki Asha (AKA), the peace initiative of the Times of India and the Jang Group of Pakistan launched on Jan 1, 2010.
Over the past two years, Aman ki Asha has been bringing together people from various backgrounds in order to help formulate a private sector policy for sustainable peace and cooperation. These efforts have helped strengthen bilateral linkages various spheres of life, including arts, culture, business and trade. Publicising the outcomes of these meetings has gone a long way towards putting 'peace' into the public discourse and sensitising policy makers about the urgency and viability of improving Indo-Pak relations.
'Dividends' is a follow-up to the First Aman ki Asha Indo-Pak Business Meet, held in New Delhi in May 2010 to discuss ways and means to develop bilateral trade and economic ties. Since then, many business leaders have been participating in ongoing meetings organised by Aman ki Asha in various sectors to take forward these ideas.The forthcoming conference in Lahore is expected to further this agenda, and push policy makers of both countries to work towards harnessing existing synergies for the benefit of the South Asian region.
The President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Adi B. Godrej will lead the large Indian contingent, joining some 250 businesspersons and corporate leaders from Pakistan at the conference.
The conference programme includes seven sessions spreading over two days in which experts from both sides will participate in detailed discussions on a policy framework for Indo-Pak trade, prospects of opening up Indian markets for Pakistan, potential benefits of permanent peace, policies for attracting bilateral investment, banking relations, and other key issues.
The conference is expected to lay down a roadmap for enhancing Indo-Pak economic cooperation in order to realise the trade potential. It is also expected to remove any misperceptions that still exist regarding opening of full-fledged trade with India. Some lobbies in Pakistan believe that granting Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India and opening up unrestricted trade will have a negative impact on domestic industries. However, according to experts, full-fledged trade will be beneficial not just for both countries but for the entire region.
Empirical evidence, based on an examination of specific sectors, indicates that India-Pakistan trade is a 'win-win' situation, says Dr Ishrat Husain, Dean of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi, in a research paper titled 'Prospects and Challenge for Increasing India-Pakistan Trade' (Atlantic Council, 2012).
As he notes, India's middle class of approximately 300 million people, with rising purchasing power that matches that of southeastern Europe, far outnumbers Pakistan's entire population, not to mention its middle class of approximately 30 million. "Even a 10 percent share of the Indian middle-class market would double the market size for Pakistani companies and businesses."
Granting MFN status to India will benefit Pakistan, and a free trade agreement will further increase those benefits.
"The potential advantages of trade liberalisation for Pakistan appear to be great," Dr Husain wrote. "Going well beyond the immediate creation of trade flows, dismantling tariff and non-tariff barriers would also boost productivity and economic growth, and promote broader regional cooperation in South Asia in all areas".
'Dividends', the Second Aman ki Asha Indo-Pak Business Meet is expected to facilitate this path.
The writer is an Assistant Editor, The News
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Thanking our Mohenjodaro guide
From: AMANKIASHA group On Behalf Of rahulm
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2010
To: barkat sheikh
Subject: Thank you
Dear Barkat saab,
After a wonderfu .....more
From: AMANKIASHA group On Behalf Of rahulmSent: Monday, December 20, 2010
To: barkat sheikh
Subject: Thank you
Dear Barkat saab,
After a wonderfu .....more
A reality revealed
Rahul Mohod
It was a trip I that I was looking forward too without really knowing what to expect. Karachi airport, though old, had a neat, clean, pleasant and .....more
Rahul Mohod It was a trip I that I was looking forward too without really knowing what to expect. Karachi airport, though old, had a neat, clean, pleasant and .....more
The business road to peace
By Jehan Ara
The day started rather badly. As I arrived at Islamabad airport to catch my flight to Karachi to receive the Aman ki Asha IT delegation arriving fr .....more
By Jehan AraThe day started rather badly. As I arrived at Islamabad airport to catch my flight to Karachi to receive the Aman ki Asha IT delegation arriving fr .....more
Paving the way for a better future
The IT sector could demonstrate the real value that collaboration brings, paving the way for a more lasting peace between two neighbours in one of most explosive parts
.....more
The IT sector could demonstrate the real value that collaboration brings, paving the way for a more lasting peace between two neighbours in one of most explosive parts
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'Why are we here?'
Amin Hashwani, businessman and president, Pakistan India CEO's Business Forum, who moderated the meetings of the Asha IT Committee from India and Pakistan over the past w
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Amin Hashwani, businessman and president, Pakistan India CEO's Business Forum, who moderated the meetings of the Asha IT Committee from India and Pakistan over the past w
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Indian IT delegates overwhelmed by Pakistani hospitality
By Abid Hussain
For Nandita Gurjar, Senior Vice President, Infosys Technologies, her first trip to Pakistan has been quite a memorable experience but with one .....more
By Abid Hussain For Nandita Gurjar, Senior Vice President, Infosys Technologies, her first trip to Pakistan has been quite a memorable experience but with one .....more
Page 123 of 175
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