Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Annisul Huq has been elected President of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) for the term 2010-2011.
The Board of Directors of FBCCI at an emergency meeting on Sunday unanimously approved the election, the country’s aped trade body said in a press statement.
First Vice President of FBCCI Abdul Kashem Ahmed has also been elected the Vice President of the SCCI.
Under the existing provisions, Bangladesh will act as the President of the SAARC Chamber for the term of 2010-2011.
Mr. Huq is one of the leading entrepreneurs of the country. His contribution to the development of garments sector of the country is enormous, the statement added.
Earlier, he served as the President of Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) for two terms.
He was the member of the Executive Committee of BGMEA for last twelve years. Mr. Huq is the Chief Executive of Mohammadi Group. He is also a director of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Bangladesh.
Mr Huq initiated negotiation for duty-free access of Bangladeshi apparels and formation of 17-member Caucus of the members of Senate and Congress of the United States. He also also worked extensively for changing European Union's rules of origin for Bangladeshi products.
Abul Kashem Ahmed is the First Vice President of FBCCI and President of the Tangail Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is also the President of the Council of Chamber Presidents.
He is the member of International Cotton Association (ICA), UK and Senior Vice President of Bangladesh Cotton Association. He is the Life Member of Red Crescent Tangail. He was the Member of Executive Committee of SAARC Chamber for the 2001-2003.
Pursuant to the directive of the SAARC Secretariat, SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, assisted by the National Federations, submitted its draft constitution to the SAARC Secretariat and received its approval in December 1992.
This signified the official recognition of the SCCI by all the national governments of SAARC as the apex body of all the National Federations of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
Currently, all national chambers or federations of the respective member countries serve as focal points to facilitate the SCCI Secretariat in Islamabad, Pakistan.
The national chambers or federations are Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI), Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) and Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL)
BBN/SS/SI/AD-23November09-2:56 pm (BST)