CACCI Profile
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CACCI Profile Confederation of Asia-Pacifi c Chambers of Commerce and Industry Vol. XXXVIII, No. 3 March 2015 CACCI President leads Members to gather in HK on October fi rst-ever presidential 29-30 for the 29th CACCI Conference visit to Bangladesh (Left) CACCI Planning Committee meets in Hong Kong on February 4, 2015 to CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili discuss preparations for the 29th CACCI Conference. (Right) CACCI and KCC leads a 9-member delegation to officers pose for a group photo. Bangladesh on February 2-3, 2015. his year’s 29th CACI Conference in 2015. He said that ACCI President Mr. Jemal TConference has been scheduled the KCC will do its best to make the CInaishvili led a nine-member to take place on October 29-30, 2015 2015 Conference a memorable and delegation to Dhaka, Bangladesh for a in Hong Kong. To be hosted by the successful event. two-day visit from February 2-3, 2015. Kowloon Chamber of Commerce The Planning Committee The Bangladesh trip was a milestone on (KCC), the two-day annual gathering considered a list of possible themes and two counts. It was Mr. Inaishvili’s first of CACCI members will be held at the topics for the 29th CACCI Conference Presidential visit since he took the helm Regal Airport Hotel. as compiled by the Secretariat. CACCI Continued on page 2 The dates and venue for the Director-General Amb. Victor C. Y. 2015 Conference were decided Tseng noted that the list was generated INSIDE THIS ISSUE during the CACCI Planning from a survey conducted earlier seeking Committee Meeting held on February suggestions from members on issues CACCI launches 1st Hydropower 4 at the Regal Kowloon Hotel in they believed are of current concern to and Clean Energy Excellence Hong Kong. Chaired by CACCI businessmen in the region. Award President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili and After exchanging views on the MNCCI invites CACCI members attended by 30 representatives members’ suggestions and taking into to two business events in from 11 CACCI member-countries, account the additional proposals made Mongolia the meeting primarily discussed by the members around the table, the YEGAP celebrates a decade of preparations for the 29th CACCI Planning Committee decided that service Conference, focusing mainly on the the theme and topics of 29th CACCI PCCI invites more Japanese dates and venue, the Conference Conference should be forward- firms to access Asean market via theme and topics, suggested format looking; should focus on policies investments in Philippines and program, and possible line-up of and measures that the business sector Mongolian Chamber takes active speakers. and governments in the region can role in facilitating enforcement of KCC Chairman Mr. Conrad Lee undertake to take full advantage of national policy on water issues expressed his Chamber’s appreciation the opportunities offered not just by CACCI Profile to go digital to CACCI for giving the KCC the markets in the Asia-Pacific region but Regular Features opportunity to host the 29th CACCI Continued on page 2 1 Members to gather As regards the Conference venue, . Continued from page 1 the KCC said that the Regal Airport Hotel has been voted as the Best by countries in other parts of the world Airport Hotel in the World in 2014. It as well; and should be able to attract a has the following features that make broad range of audience, particularly it an ideal venue for the Conference: young businessmen. (a) with over 1,170 guest rooms; (b) In light of the above, the convenient location (just 24 minutes to Committee agreed that the Hong Kong Central by train); (c) excellent facilities Conference should carry the theme and amenities; (d) plenty of tourist “Asia Beyond Limits”. As regards attractions nearby; and (e) reasonable CACCI Planning Committee discuss the specific topics, the Committee room rates starting from US$232/ final dates and theme of the 29th requested the KCC and the CACCI day net, with free in-room WiFi, CACCI Conference in Hong Kong. The Secretariat to coordinate with each complimentary breakfast, free access to meeting, hosted by KCC, was held at other on identifying issues that they gym and pool. the Regal Hotel. deem are relevant to the agreed theme, More information about the taking into account those submitted speakers. Mr. Inaishvili requested the Conference (e.g., Tentative Program, earlier by member chambers as well meeting participants to submit to the registration procedure, hotel booking, as those suggested by the meeting Secretariat any additional suggestions etc.) will be sent to all members as soon participants. they may have in this regard, adding as these are available. In the meantime, The CACCI Secretariat was tasked that the invited speakers should be CACCI President Mr. Inaishvili is to coordinate and follow up with the prominent enough to attract a large calling on all members to already note KCC and the other meeting participants audience from CACCI members both down this year’s Conference in your on their suggestions for the Conference from overseas and locally. calendar of activities for 2015. CACCI President . Continued from page 1 The delegation also had the opportunity impact business relationships between to network with FBCCI officers, Bangladesh and CACCI member members and other local businessmen; countries. He said that Bangladesh of CACCI in September 2014. It was visit a leading pharmaceutical needs more trade and investments also the first-ever CACCI Presidential company; and experience some of the to become a middle-income country visit to Bangladesh. tourist attractions and places of interest and invited investments from CACCI Organized and hosted by the in Bangladesh. members. Mr. Akram expressed his Federation of Bangladesh Chambers The visit also resulted in the hopes that FBCCI and CACCI would of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), recruitment of several CACCI Lifetime continue to work together for mutual the visit was aimed at providing Special Members from Bangladesh, development and progress. the CACCI visitors the opportunity and gave further impetus to recruit In his response, CACCI President to promote CACCI in Bangladesh more in the near future. Mr. Inaishvili said that Bangladesh and explore possible joint business is a beautiful country having all ventures and investment cooperation Discussion Meeting with opportunities to develop its economy with their Bangladeshi counterparts. Representatives of the Bangladesh further. Given its population of about The CACCI delegation was composed Business Community 165 million, Bangladesh represents of key chamber officers and leading The FBCCI organized a a big market with a rapidly growing businessmen from Australia, Georgia, Discussion Meeting between the market-based economy. Reports Hong Kong, India, Iran, Nepal, the CACCI delegation and some 100 indicate that Bangladesh has seen a Philippines, Taiwan and Turkey. business leaders of Bangladesh on the dramatic increase in foreign direct The two-day program for the morning of February 2 at the Ballroom investments, he stated. Mr. Inaishvili Presidential visit allowed the CACCI of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel. added that Goldman Sachs recognized delegation to meet with various In his Welcome Remarks, the Bangladeshi economy as one of government officials to exchange views FBCCI President Mr. Kazi Akram eleven countries as having a high on trade and investment issues as well Uddin Ahmed said that the CACCI potential of becoming, along with the as identify areas where Bangladesh Presidential visit would greatly push BRICs, among the world’s largest and CACCI member countries may forward the agenda of regional business economies in the 21st century. Given strengthen their economic relations. integration and generate long-term Continued on page 3 2 CACCI President . Continued from page 2 all these developments, Mr. Inaishvili stressed that Bangladesh should tell the world about its extraordinary achievements on economic front as the country’s successes are mostly unknown to most countries. “It is a success story. The (Left) FBCCI President Mr. Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed and FBCCI officers warmly country has achieved a lot since its welcome CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili and the CACCI delegation to Dhaka independence, especially in the last (Right) CACCI delegates make a courtesy call on Honorable Finance Minister Mr. 10 to 15 years. Everyone should see it Abul Maal A. Muhith, M.P. because it is completely different from what I was expecting,” Mr. Inaishvili said. Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr. Gowher Rizvi, who attended the Discussion Meeting as the Chief Guest, said that people outside Bangladesh are indeed not fully aware of how much progress the country has achieved over the years. He urged the CACCI visitors to encourage all in (Left) CACCI delegates pay a visit to the office of Bangladesh’s Minister of their respective countries to understand Agriculture Honorable Begum Matia Chowdhury, M.P. (Right) Executive Chairman the new narrative and new stories of of the Board of Investment Dr. Seyed Samad speaks to delegates about the country’s Bangladesh. He said that the country incentive policies for foreign investors. can do much more in the coming years, adding that the country will not have to wait until 2021 to have a status of middle-income country as it may achieve the status much earlier. FBCCI First Vice President Mrs. Monowara Hakim Ali also sought greater cooperation between FBCCI and CACCI members in the coming days. Mrs. Ali, who is also member of the CACCI Executive Committee, encouraged the CACCI visitors to work (Left) FBCCI First Vice President Mrs. Monowara Hakim Ali, second from left, as ambassadors for Bangladesh in their hosts a farewell dinner for all delegates at the Hotel Holiday Villa (Right) Members respective countries by narrating their of the CACCI delegation pose for a souvenir shot during the farewell dinner.