SAARC Chamber president leads high-level team to 10 Downing Street

KATHMANDU/LONDON - A team from the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, headed by its President Chandi Raj Dhakal, made an unprecedented visit to the UK government at 10 Downing Street. This marked the first time a delegation from SAARC CCI, established in 1992, had met with the UK Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Rt.

Hon. Pat McFadden, since the chamber's inception. The visit emphasized the expanding international influence of SAARC CCI and its determination to bolster ties between South Asia, the United Kingdom, and the Commonwealth.

During their meeting, the SAARC CCI delegation presented a comprehensive policy report. This report, collaboratively created with the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network, outlined a strategic roadmap focusing on Connectivity, Commerce, and Creativity (3Cs). The recommendations aimed to boost trade and investment ties, improve regional connectivity, promote youth and women's economic engagement, attract diaspora investments, and foster enhanced economic cooperation between South Asia, the United Kingdom, and the wider Commonwealth.

Key recommendations included the creation of a SAARC Digital Single Window to streamline trade and services, and a regional value-chain mapping project to identify opportunities for increased intraregional trade and regional production networks. SAARC CCI President Chandi Raj Dhakal underscored the critical role of strengthening economic partnerships to deliver tangible opportunities for businesses, entrepreneurs, women, and youth across the region.

The delegation included Chandi Raj Dhakal, President of SAARC CCI; Dr Rohitha Silva, Senior Vice President, SAARC CCI and President of FCCISL; Dr Mariyam Shakeela, Vice President of SAARC CCI (Maldives); Zulfiqar Ali Butt, Secretary General of SAARC CCI; and Arif Zaman, Advisor to SAARC CCI in the European Union and Executive Director of the Commonwealth Women Business Network.

This Downing Street visit symbolized a major stride in fostering dialogue among South Asia’s private sector, the United Kingdom, and the Commonwealth, with a collective emphasis on connectivity, commerce, investment, innovation, and inclusive economic growth.