Prosperity through Competitiveness in Textile Sector

Venue: LCCI (Amin Hall) Date: 31st July, 2007 Time: 02:00 to 06:00pm

Institute of Research Promotion (IRP) in collaboration with National Productivity Organization (NPO), Ministry of Industries, Production & Special Initiatives and Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), Lahore has planned a free seminar on “Prosperity through Competitiveness in Textile Sector” to address the issues of competitiveness in Pakistani textile sector. The seminar aims at analyzing the current state of textile sector, associated problems and potential of developing competitiveness through joint efforts of academia, industry and public sector in Pakistan. The seminar will provide a unique opportunity to interact with each other, share expertise and develop linkages for the prosperity of textile sector.

SEMINAR OVERVIEW

We need textile sector
The textile sector is considered as backbone of Pakistan Economy, having multidimensional impact. The development of various sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, export, import and within country trade is directly associated with the growth in textile. Technology upgradation, foreign reserve in terms of export, value-added manufacturing, large-scale employment, banking business and overall industrial progress are heavily dependent on the developments in textile sector.

We can win
Pakistan is one of countries, having the largest base in textile sector and the finest quality of cotton. The vast area of cotton cultivation reasonably cheep labor, suitable weathers and number of other God blessings gives competitive edge over other countries in the world.

Why we failed?
Inspite of all above-mentioned rosy pictures, textile industry is facing serous problems. The survival of industry is being questioned. Business intellectuals are expressing their doubts the stability of textile sector in the highly competitive market across the world. Numbers of questions in Pakistani textile sector are waiting for response like:

1. Why innovation has not become the norm of this sector?
2. Why value-addition process is so slow or out of concern?
3. Why Pakistan is left behind by neighbor countries in textile market?
4. Why image of Pakistan is not remarkable in the global market?
5. Why advanced management practices are not allowed to enter our factories?
6. Why profitability is so low or companies are operating in loss?

Proposed remedy
The research and development always have been the collaborative effort of academia, public and corporate sector. All the major breakthroughs in technology, social and pure sciences are the results of joint projects initiated by academia and funded by government and industry. The universities always pursued innovation with the close partnership of corporate and public sector as a change agent all over the world. Therefore, IRP believes that solution of textile sector problems lies in the academia, industry and public sector partnership. IRP has planned to hold a seminar on “Prosperity through competitiveness”: A role of academia, industry and government in textile sector. The seminar would primarily address the four major questions:

1. What are the areas of concern in textile sector competitiveness, like export marketing, branding, technology upgradation, and value addition etc.?
2. What is the role of Government to address the issues of textile sector?
3. How academia can contribute to address the issues of textile sector?
4. What is the responsibility of textile sector to get their problems solved?
5. How this tripartite partnership can work in Pakistan?

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Chief Guest
Mr. Shahid Hassan Sheikh
President
Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Keynote speech
“Prosperity through competitiveness: problems and prospects of Pakistani textile sector”
By Dr. Faheem ul Islam, (Assistant Professor, LUMS)

Panel discussion
“How Academia, industry and public sector partnership can bring competitiveness in textile sector”

PANELISTS

1. Mr. S.M. Qutub - Director Quality, Polaris & Shazak
2. Dr. Tanveer Ahmed - National Textile University, FSD
3. Mr. Akbar Shaikh - Director, North Star Textile
4. Mr. Mohsin Syed - Regional Director, NIP, Pakistan
5. Mr. Umer Farooq - Director General, Large Tax Unit, Punjab
6. Mr. Farhat Khan - Cotton Grower
7. Representative of APTMA

Anchor person and moderator
Mr. Hasan Haider
Head Training, NPO, Pakistan

PROGRAM
Venue: LCCI (Amin Hall)
Date: 31st July, 2007
Time: 02:00 to 06:00pm

For further details and registration
visit www.irp.edu.pk or

Contact
Mr. Mustafa Zaidi
Joint Director R&D, LCCI
mustafa@lcci.org.pk
0322-4051459
042-111-222-499

Mr. Rahmat Ullah
Coordinator, IRP
crd@irp.edu.pk
0321-4917181
042-5020200

Institute of Research Promotion (IRP)
13-A, AL-Hamra Building (Adkings), Faiz Road, Old Muslim Town Lahore,
www.irp.edu.pk 92-042-5020200-5835009