News: Qaim Ali Shah calls on CSF to assist new govt on the economy development
Name of the Newspaper: News Network International (NNI)
Date of publication: Thursday, 10 July, 2008
Website:

KARACHI: Syed Qaim Ali Shah, the Chief Minister of Sindh, has requested the Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF) to help draft a ‘State of Sindh Competitiveness Report’ as well as to identify the sectors that have competitive advantage and potential to grow.

Specifically he requested CSF help on fisheries, including the Karachi Fisheries Harbour and facilitating the processing of mangoes, dates and bananas.

The Chief Minister underscored his strong desire to work with CSF closely in developing stable economic fundaments in the Sindh province.

He also desired to create international linkages via CSF with economic institutions outside of Pakistan. He asked CSF to set up its regional office for the Sindh province in Karachi.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah also encouraged CSF to set up a Sindh Competitiveness Council consisting of public-private and academia partnerships to have a consensus on the priorities related to economic development in Sindh.

Arthur Bayhan, Chief Executive Officer CSF, noted that there is a need for regional economic development in Pakistan to respond to the challenges and opportunities in the global market.

The CSF is a joint initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan and has been established to reposition economy on a more global footing. The Fund is based on international best practices and has been tailored to the current Pakistani economic environment.