The 83rd Executive Committee Meeting and 27th General Assembly Meeting of SCCI were hosted by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) on August 2, 2024, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, under the chairmanship of the Honorable President of SCCI, Mr. Md. Jashim Uddin.

The meeting was attended by SCCI EC and GA members from six SAARC member countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Butt, Secretary General of SCCI, while welcoming the house, marked the quorum complete.

Mr. Md. Jashim Uddin, President, SCCI welcomed all EC and GA members of SCCI and presidents and office bearers of national chambers of commerce from the respective countries present in the meeting physically and virtually. He also acknowledged and thanked everyone who participated in the SCCI sideline activities, including the South Asia Trade Fair & Business Forum, and recognized the collaboration and support of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) in making the events possible.

The agenda of the meeting included a review and approval of the agenda of the joint session of the 83rd Executive Committee Meeting and 27th General Assembly Meeting, review and approval of the minutes of the 82nd Executive Committee Meeting, an update on the SCCI headquarters building project, the Annual Plan of Activities and Budget of SCCI 2024, the Annual Membership Subscription Fee of SCCI, and the Date and Venue of the 84th Executive Committee Meeting of SCCI.

Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Butt, Secretary General, SCCI presented a brief overview of SCCI activities since the last meeting in December 2023, highlighting a video presentation prepared by SCCI Secretariat.

While addressing the SCCI members, Mr. Chandi Raj Dhakal, Vice President, SCCI (Nepal), emphasized the need to differentiate between primary and associate memberships within SCCI.

Mr. Zubair Ahmed Malik, Vice Chairman Building Committee and EC Member, SCCI (Pakistan) highlighted that SCCI Headquarters building is the collective responsibility of all SAARC member countries and called for a serious and committed approach to address the challenges.

Mian Anjum Nisar, Vice President, SCCI (Pakistan) suggested focusing on completing essential building components to generate rental income and offset further expenses.

Mr. Md. Jashim Uddin, President, SCCI, expressed gratitude to Mr. Ruwan Edirisinghe and Mr. Zubair Ahmed Malik for their contributions and expertise on the building project. He acknowledged the complexities of the construction industry and highlighted the presence of Mr. Golam Muhammad Alamgir, a prominent construction businessman and SAARC Chamber Executive Committee Member, as a valuable resource. He proposed his name as a member for the HQ Building Committee of SAARC CCI.

Dr. M. Rohitha Silva, Vice President, SCCI (Sri Lanka) stressed the need for a physical visit of the leaders of the HQ Building Committee to Islamabad to take prompt decisions to operationalize the building.

The 83rd Executive Committee Meeting and 27th General Assembly Meeting of SCCI were successfully concluded in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Key decisions were made on important aspects such as the SCCI headquarters building project, membership fees, and upcoming events.