KP-IFC formally launched to promote business, investment

PESHAWAR: An endeavour to attract investment and building favourable business climate under vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan of Ease of Doing Business, the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) in collaboration with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has formally launched a web-portal/Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Investment Facilitation Centre (KP-IFC).

The idea of KP-IFC was conceived by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with the notion to promote investment and resolve business community through digitization means under one window operation service, which is also testimonial and reflection of PM's vision and an effort towards Ease of Doing Business (EoDB).

In this regard, a formal launching ceremony was held in a local hotel the other day, which was chaired by SCCI President Sherbaz Bilour. The participants thanked the UNDP and USAID for extending financial and technical support in formal execution of the KP-IFC project.

Besides, the chamber Senior Vice President Engineer Manzoor Elahi, Vice President Junaid Altaf, former President FPCCI Ghazanfar Bilour, former President Malik Niaz Ahmad, Faiz Muhammad Faizi, Engr Maqsood Anwar Pervaiz, former Vice President Abdul Jalil Jan, executive members Syed Minhajuddin, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Zahoor Khan, provincial ministers Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, Mian Khaliqeer Rehman, Muhamamd Atif Khan, Shah Muhammad Khan, MNA Zile Huma, SMEDA Provincial Chief Rashid Aman, ANP parliamentary leader, Sadar Hussain Babak, UNDP Sub-office representative Ms Tania, heads of different government institutions, high officials

and representatives relevant stakeholders were present at the launching event.

SMEDA CEO Hashim Raza and UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Ms Aliona Niculita participated in the ceremony through video link.

Sherbaz Bilour while speaking on the occasion said the launching of KP-IFC is a step toward Ease of Doing Business and creating a favourable business environment to attract investment in the province. He expressed hope that the SCCI initiative would play a pivotal role in resolution of business community and investors issues under one roof.

He, on the occasion, stressed the need of regional trade and building close linkages between business community, government and academia for framing sustainable policies and creating more job opportunities in the province.

He informed that a digital economic committee will be formed at the SCCI level very soon. He extended special gratitude to UNDP and USAID for extending financial assistance for the KP-IFC project.

Later, speaking on the occasion, the provincial ministers widely hailed the joint initiative of SCCI and SMEDA for attracting investment in the province. They said the incumbent government was taking pragmatic steps to facilitate the business community at every level.

The provincial ministers said the country's economy has put them in the right direction owing to prudent policies of the present government. They viewed that the steps have been taken to provide a congenial atmosphere to investors under the PM's vision of Ease of Doing Business and assured the SCCI to extend full cooperation to make this important initiative a success.

The KP Ministers furthermore lauded the role of business community contribution towards economic development as what they said if the businessmen would be prosperous, so the country's economy would be flourishing as well.

The present government, they added, was adopting policy to facilitate the business community to boost up investment and improve the national economy.

The SMEDA CEO Hashim Raza and UNDP Resident Representative Ms Aliona Niculita also addressed the ceremony through video link and praised the efforts of SCCI towards promotion of investment and Ease and Doing Business in KP.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021