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Tag: OICCI

  • Jazz recognized for driving change beyond workplace

    Jazz recognized for driving change beyond workplace

    KARACHI: To recognize the commitment in improving the lives and livelihood of women through technology, the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) awarded Jazz with the ‘Driving Change Beyond Workplace’ award at the Women Empowerment Awards 2021 held on Thursday.

    Abdul Aleem, Secretary General, OICCI presented the award to Wajida Leclerc, Chief People Officer, Jazz.

    READ MORE: OICCI organizes Women Empowerment Awards

    Jazz is dedicated to enhancing diversity and women’s empowerment within its business model and focuses on uplifting women in the society through the power of the internet.

    Female specific products and services are designed to help address many of the wider gender inequalities by digitally enabling them to access health, financial, and other life-enhancing services.

    READ MORE: Jazz Digital Park inaugurated in Islamabad

    The company’s digital financial service, JazzCash, under the GSMA Connected Women Commitment Initiative, has committed to increase the proportion of women in their mobile money customer base by 2023. In addition, all its sustainability programs ensure 50% women participation ranging from urban to rural areas so women can lead the change.

    “Inclusivity being at the heart of all our policies, we have always paved the way for gender equality within the organization as well as the society at large. This recognition further validates our holistic approach towards empowering women internally and externally and renews our vigor as we move forward in our journey of creating a digitally inclusive ecosystem in Pakistan,” said Wajida Leclerc, Chief People Officer, Jazz.

    READ MORE: Jazz’s investment in Pakistan crosses $10 billion

    Jazz is an equal opportunity employer and is creating and nurturing an inclusive and empowering culture. It’s one of the first telecom companies with a high female representation in its executive leadership. Not only does the company promote gender diversity in its work environment, it also has programs focused entirely on attracting and facilitating the female gender including the most recent ‘She’s Back – Women Returnship Program’ for women looking to return to work following a career break. Jazz is among the few early adopters in Pakistan to fully commit itself to the Women Empowerment Principles, introduced by UN Women and the UN Global Compact that focus on steering corporates to promote gender equality and women empowerment.

    Champions of Change Coalition, a globally recognized, high-profile coalition working to achieve change on gender equality issues recently welcomed Jazz CEO Aamir Ibrahim as the coalition’s member aiming to accelerate progress in creating more inclusive and progressive organizations in Pakistan.

    READ MORE: PTA renews Jazz license for $449.2 million

  • OICCI organizes Women Empowerment Awards

    OICCI organizes Women Empowerment Awards

    KARACHI: The Overseas Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) on Thursday organized Women Empowerment Awards 2021 to recognize the growing importance of women towards creating an enabling environment necessary to accelerate the economic growth in the country.

    OICCI initiated various research and has been holding annual competition among the members by recognizing those who have focused on women empowerment. “Increasing Women’s inclusion in the Pakistan Economy” a policy paper by OICCI has been shared with the Ministry of Human Rights last year.

    READ MORE: Ghais Khan elected OICCI president

    President OICCI Ghias Khan on the occasion said: “OICCI had initiated the OICCI Women Empowerment initiative in 2017 and has been regularly advocating for women empowerment among its membership. The fourth (2021) edition of the awards this year was organized to recognize the progress made by OICCI members in raising the engagement of women within their respective organization and give awards to the outstanding performers.”

    The awards were judged by an independent jury who vetted the performance of the companies from different aspects and awarded the best performers overall and in seven separate categories.

    READ MORE: OICCI expresses dismay over FBR action against mobile operator

    Three companies emerged victorious across all the categories and won top three positions: Procter & Gamble Pakistan and Telenor Pakistan were declared the first and second runner-up respectively while Unilever Pakistan won the top position and declared winner of “OICCI Women Empowerment Award 2021.”

    Special Recognition Awards were given in seven categories. Nestlé Pakistan won in the ‘Leadership & Strategy’ category; Mobilink Microfinance Bank in ‘Gender Balance Workforce’; Standard Chartered Bank in ‘Work Life Integration’; Bank Alfalah in ‘Women Leaders Development’; Pakistan Mobile Communications (Jazz) in “Driving Change Beyond Workspace”; TRG (ibex. Pakistan) in “Notable Growth in Women Empowerment”; and L’Oreal Pakistan bagged the ‘Top Performer amongst companies of 300 employees’ Award.

    READ MORE: OICCI members pay one third of total tax collection

    The ceremony was attended by a large number of CEOs and corporate professionals from different OICCI member companies, as well as diplomats and other distinguished guests.

    The keynote speakers included the Political Counsellor at British High Commission, Iona Thomas; European Union Ambassador to Pakistan, H.E. Androulla Kaminara; and Executive Vice President Unilever, Annemarieke de Haan.

    The speakers termed OICCI the trendsetter for women empowerment in Pakistan and advised that the corporate sector across Pakistan should replicate the ‘OICCI Women’ initiative to foster economic growth of the country.

    Deputy Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Sima Kamil, during a panel discussion, lauded the efforts of the OICCI and observed that OICCI Women is a great platform to create a movement for women empowerment in the country and appreciated the OICCI initiative to publicly acknowledge the efforts of member companies to give women equal employment opportunity and congenial working environment for the economy to grow.

    READ MORE: Business confidence falls on COVID: OICCI survey

    The speakers also emphasized that empowerment of women and gender equality are essential tools to achieve sustainable development in a global world. Therefore, it is important to bring women into the mainstream in all sectors, to build strong economies and improve the quality of life for women, men, families and communities alike.

    At the conclusion, Secretary OICCI, M. Abdul Aleem, hoped to see OICCI Women initiative become an inspiration for all organizations across the country and joining hands for a greater cause.

  • Ghais Khan elected OICCI president

    Ghais Khan elected OICCI president

    KARACHI: Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) has elected Ghais Khan as president for the term 2022.

    Ghias Khan is President & Chief Executive Officer, Engro Corporation Limited.

    The election of Ghais Khan announced at the 162nd Annual General Meeting of the OICCI held at the Chamber on Monday. Amir Rasool Paracha, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Unilever Pakistan Limited, was elected as the Vice President.

    The other elected members of the OICCI Managing Committee for 2022 are included: Ahmed Zahid Zaheer, Chevron Pakistan Lubricants (Pvt) Limited; Ali Ahmed Khan, FriesLandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited; Erum Shakir Rahim, GhaxoSmithKline Pakistan Limited; Ali Asghar Jamali, Indus Motor Company Limited; Samer Chedid, Nestle Pakistan Limited; Waqar Irshad Siddiqui, Shell Pakistan Limited; Markus Strohmeier, Siemens Pakistan Engineering Company Limited; and Rehan Muhammad Shaikh, Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited.

    In his message to the members, Incoming President Ghias Khan said he strongly believes that Pakistan offers considerable growth potential for existing and new foreign investors.

    He lauded OICCI’s role in promoting Pakistan to potential foreign investors. He further appreciated the quality of OICCI Business surveys and the Chamber’s focused and continuing advocacy efforts for streamlining the taxation system, pragmatic policy input for increasing the efficiency of energy sector, initiatives on women empowerment, gender equality, climate and sustainability, and the Chamber’s role in pursuing an effective Intellectual Property Rights regime in Pakistan.

    Ghias Khan holds an MBA from the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi and also serves as Chairman on the Boards of Engro Fertilizers Limited, Engro Polymer & Chemicals Limited, Engro Enfrashare (Pvt) Limited, and Engro Energy Limited.

  • Tax officials meet foreign investors to resolve issues

    Tax officials meet foreign investors to resolve issues

    KARACHI: A team of senior tax officials held a meeting with foreign investors on Tuesday in order to resolve their pending issues.

    The team of senior tax officials was headed by Shahid Iqbal Baloch, Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue (CCIR), Large Taxpayers Office (LTO) Karachi. Kazi Hifzur Rehman, Commissioner Inland Revenue, Audit Zone-III, LTO Karachi was also with him to attend the meeting at the premises of Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI), the representative body of the foreign investors operating in Pakistan.

    Chief Executive / Secretary-General of OICCI Abdul Aleem and other member taxpayers of OICCI attended the meeting.

    The CE / Secretary-General welcomed the Chief Commissioner-IR, Large Taxpayers Office, Karachi Shahid Iqbal Baloch, KaziHifzur Rehman, Commissioner-IR, to OICCI.

    CCIR LTO Karachi Shahid Iqbal Baloch highlighted the role of his office in the collection of all domestic taxes particularly with reference to members of OICCI, who are the highest taxpayers of the country.

    The members of OICCI shared their views and issues of taxation with the Chief Commissioner-IR, LTO, Karachi who also ensured their timely completion and highlighted that the team of officers posted at LTO, Karachi are thorough professionals and it was reiterated that all their pending issues related to taxes shall be completed as per law accordingly.

    The meeting ended with vote of thanks by the Chief Commissioner-IR, LTO, Karachi Mr. Shahid Iqbal Baloch.

    LTO Karachi, PBC discuss tax issues
  • German body seeks investment opportunities in Pakistan

    German body seeks investment opportunities in Pakistan

    KARACHI: A 20-member German Emirati Chamber of Commerce & Industry (AHK) business delegation, which is visiting Pakistan for a firsthand assessment of business and investment opportunities in the country held a meeting today with foreign investors, members of Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI).

    The German Business delegation was accompanied by Holger Ziegeler, German Consul General in Karachi, and First Secretary for Economic Affairs at the German Embassy in Islamabad.

    OICCI CEO/Secretary General M. Abdul Aleem, shared a detailed presentation, highlighting the liberal policies in Pakistan for foreign direct investment (FDI) which offers tremendous opportunities for new investment. Commenting on the investment opportunities in Pakistan, Aleem stated: “OICCI members have benefitted by taking a longer-term view which is illustrated by the fact OICCI members have re-invested over US$ 18 billion in the last 9 years which is more than the total FDI inflow into the country during this period.”

    The OICCI shared with the 20 members of the German Business delegation the results of the recent Business Confidence Index Survey carried out from May to July 2021 showing a dramatic upswing in Business confidence across Pakistan by 59 per cent since the last BCI survey done in the same period in 2020. “The OICCI members randomly included in the survey are more upbeat as their confidence level has gone up by 108’, Aleem added.

    Oliver Oehms, CEO of the visiting German Emirati Joint Council for Industry and Commerce and other members of the delegation enquired about several matters, including potential sectors for investment, special concessions for major investment in Pakistan, incentives relating to Special Economic Zones, major development projects on tourism, the impact of increasing inflation on businesses in Pakistan,  tax incentives for putting up export-based industries using imported raw materials and the most reliable government agency to facilitate the potential foreign investors. All the queries were duly responded by the OICCI members at the meeting.

    Record improvement in foreign investors’ confidence
  • Record improvement in foreign investors’ confidence

    Record improvement in foreign investors’ confidence

    KARACHI: The business confidence score (BSC) of foreign investors operating in Pakistan have witnessed a record improvement.

    (more…)
  • Self assessment scheme to facilitate taxpayers: Tarin

    Self assessment scheme to facilitate taxpayers: Tarin

    KARACHI: Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin on Friday said that the Universal Self Assessment Scheme (USAS) has been reintroduced. This scheme will facilitate taxpayers in declaring income and assets.

    (more…)
  • Foreign investors pay Rs1.4 trillion as annual tax revenue in Pakistan

    Foreign investors pay Rs1.4 trillion as annual tax revenue in Pakistan

    KARACHI: The foreign firms operating in Pakistan have paid around Rs1.4 trillion as duty and taxes during fiscal year 2020/2021, said Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) on Monday.

    The OICCI is the chamber of leading over 200 foreign investors in Pakistan belonging to 35 countries. It released the consolidated financial contribution of its members for the year 2020 based on feedback from 170 members, 50 of whom are subsidiaries of Fortune 500 companies.

    The foreign investors have contributed significantly towards the GDP of the country and have maintained the OICCI position as the largest chamber of commerce in terms of economic contribution in the country. This comprehensive survey is being conducted annually since 2009.

    Elaborating on the key features of the OICCI 2020 Economic Contribution survey, Irfan Siddiqui, President OICCI highlighted that “we are proud that in the past twelve months, OICCI members, despite very challenging and uncertain business environment due to COVID-19 impact on the business and life of people globally and in Pakistan, contributed over Rs 1.4 trillion, or approximately Rs five billion each working day, towards the tax revenue of Pakistan, approximately one third of the total tax collection in the country.  Two of the OICCI members paid taxes in excess of Rs 100 billion each “.

    Commenting on the significant contribution of foreign investors in the economy of Pakistan, Irfan Siddiqui added “OICCI members believe in Pakistan and going forward are keen for playing a more prominent role in a growing economy supported by a predictable, transparent and stable policy framework and a business friendly regulatory and operating environment”. 

    OICCI members have in the past nine years invested over US $ 18 Billion, largely in the Energy, Telecom, Chemicals, Food /FMCG and Banking sectors. “With an asset base of US $ 137 Billion,” Secretary General, OICCI, M Abdul Aleem added,” OICCI members’ maintained their position as the leading investors in Pakistan during 2020 with new investments of over US $ 2.4 Billion mainly in the Energy, Telecom and Chemicals sectors.”

    Besides the monetary contribution, OICCI members also play a leading role in the transfer of technology, digital transformation, introducing latest inventions and sharing of best practices in the field of manufacturing operation, supply chain and marketing of internationally renowned brands.

    Moreover, OICCI members, as a group, are the largest contributor towards the social sectors. In the last one-year OICCI members contributed Rs 8 billion to social initiatives, benefiting 62 million people throughout the country, and also contributed an additional Rs 8 billion for the various government and private sector COVID-19 containing activities.

    In conclusion, OICCI Secretary General observed that “Pakistan suffers from negative perception which is largely uncalled for, requiring authorities to work in partnership with serious stakeholders, like OICCI, to ensure the country gets its due share of the significant FDI coming to this region.”

  • Foreign investors praise State Bank for facilitating remittances

    Foreign investors praise State Bank for facilitating remittances

    KARACHI: Foreign investors operating in the country have appreciated the significant improvement in the foreign exchange remittance processing time and in growing engagement of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) leadership with the key stakeholders.

    (more…)
  • Foreign investors call for strong protection of intellectual property rights

    Foreign investors call for strong protection of intellectual property rights

    KARACHI: Foreign investors from the platform of Overseas Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) have demanded strong protection of intellectual property rights in Pakistan for encouraging innovation and creativity in people and society.

     ‘The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) has always championed the cause of protecting Intellectual Property Rights in Pakistan which is critical for attracting and retaining FDI in the country’, commented Irfan Siddiqui President of OICCI on “Intellectual Property Rights Day” celebrated worldwide on April 26th annually.

    Irfan Siddiqui  added that ‘close monitoring of IPR regime in Pakistan has always been a fundamental part of the OICCI agenda.  Laws which give a strong protection to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) play a key role in encouraging innovation and creativity in people and society’.

    OICCI stated that this year’s World Intellectual Property Rights Day, theme “IP & SMEs: Taking your ideas to market”, will help to highlight the fact that a strong IPR is not only a requirement for multinationals, but a key point for all commercial entities and consumers. Pakistan’s recent accession to the Madrid Protocol has given local businesses, especially exporters, protection of  their Trade Marks in 196 different member countries. There are various indigenous Geographical Indication (GI) products in Pakistan (eg, Peshawari chappals, Ajrak print and Sindhri mangoes). The GI (Registration and Protection) Act 2020 is crucial to secure worldwide recognition of the Pakistani products and has helped establish a system for the registration and protection of GI rights in Pakistan.

    ‘IPR protection motivates innovators, promotes business growth, creating employment, and diversifying the choice of products available to consumers. Strong and effective enforcement of IPR legal framework benefits consumers as they get the feeling of purchasing safe and guaranteed products, especially healthcare products”, commented Erum Shakir, OICCI Managing Committee member and Chairperson of the OICCI IPR Subcommittee

    Sharing the experience and way forward for improving the IPR regime in Pakistan, OICCI members representing the collective voice of top 200 foreign investors in Pakistan, have observed that while the IPR laws in Pakistan are, by and large, world class, its implementation is far from being effective. While appreciating various initiative of the IPR regulator in Pakistan, Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO-P) towards facilitating IP protection and rationalizing the associated costs, the registration process for IPR ( copyrights, patents and Trade Marks) needs to be fully digitalized and fast turnaround timing to facilitate all IPR owners, spread all over the country.  This is needed to encourage, new innovators and SMEs to opt for IP Registration. Moreover, a fast track resolution of IP disputes, with enhanced capacity and knowledge sharing on IPR in special courts / tribunals is expected to accelerate new  registration of IPR and build positive image for the country.

    In conclusion, Irfan Siddiqui, OICCI President, observed, “we are proud of OICCI members contribution over the years in raising the awareness about the importance of Intellectual Property Rights in Pakistan for  attracting new FDI, and in promoting innovation and creativity and jobs in the country .  Working in partnership with IPOP and all relevant stakeholders, OICCI is promoting knowledge sharing for a more effective and business friendly IPR regime , so as to encourage innovators in Pakistan and worldwide to share their invention , including latest patents in medicine, in the country.  Without adequate IP protection, local innovators are unable to attract investments, business creation is slow, and jobs lost. Economic prosperity relies on job growth, and strong, effective IP rights have a role to play in creating both”.