The 83^rd Executive Committee Meeting and 27th General Assembly Meeting of SCCI were hosted by the Federation of Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (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 members from six SAARC member countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. India and Bhutan were absent. The quorum was confirmed by Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Butt, Secretary General of SCCI.

President SCCI, Md. Jashim Uddin welcomed all senior board members of SCCI and national federations from the respective countries present in the meeting virtually. He also acknowledged and thanked everyone who participated in the SCCI sideline activities, including the South Asian trade fair, and recognized the collaboration and support of the Federation of Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (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 SAARC CCI 2024, the Annual Membership Subscription Fee of SAARC CCI, and the Date and Venue of the 84th Executive Committee Meeting of SCCI.

Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Butt, Secretary General, SAARC CCI 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 Chapter), emphasized the need to differentiate between primary and associate memberships within SCCI.

Mr. Zubair Ahmed Malik, EC Member, SCCI (Pakistan Chapter) highlighted the collective responsibility of all SAARC member countries for the building project and called for a serious and committed approach to address the challenges.

In his address, Mian Anjum Nisar, Vice President, SCCI (Pakistan Chapter) provided additional context regarding the project’s funding. Mr. Nisar also 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.

Following the next agenda item, Dr. M. Rohitha Silva, Vice President, SCCI (Sri Lanka Chapter) stressed the importance of obtaining a formal proposal from MNCCI to nominate Dr. Mariyam Shakeela, as Vice President, rather than making the decision unilaterally.

Mr. Amzad Hussain, SYEF Chairman, suggested exploring options to restructure membership fees, potentially differentiating dues based on member activity and participation levels to mitigate this issue.

While discussing the SCCI Life Memberships, Mr. Shafquat Haider, Vice President, SCCI (Bangladesh Chapter) apprised the house that the payment for the two life memberships from Bangladesh would be submitted shortly.

The Secretary General, SAARC CCI proposed a separate meeting with the Sri Lankan delegation to discuss the outstanding payment in detail and to explore potential solutions. He also mentioned about the upcoming business conference in Chengdu, where the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) along with planned SCCI activities till December.

The 83rd Executive Committee Meeting and 27th General Assembly Meeting of SCCI were successfully held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Key discussions and decisions were made on various agenda items, including the SCCI headquarters building project, membership fees, and upcoming events.