Srinagar, Nov 23 (KNS): A delegation of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by its President, Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad today met Mr. Kjell Magne Bondevik, Former Prime Minister of Norway and President of the Oslo Centre for Peace and Human Rights and Mr. Ewald Poeran, Managing Director, World Forum for Ethics in Business at SKICC, Srinagar.
The unstable situation prevailing in the State and its stressful and worrying impact on the business community was discussed in detail. Shiekh Ashiq Ahmad informed Mr. Bondevik that the KCC&I had always supported the programs for peaceful protests in solidarity with the people of Kashmir and every killing, hartal, strike and large scale disturbance demanded and called for the resolution of the dispute of our State.
He stated that the as long as there was no structured, meaningful and effective dialogue between leaders of India, Pakistan and genuine representatives of our State, the situation would continue to remain far from normal. The KCC&I sought the intervention of Mr. Bondevik in supporting their call upon human rights organizations to report events which had breached our tolerance levels and shaken the conscience of the society and bring them to the notice of the world community.
The President also discussed the Cross LOC Trade and problems it had faced since its inception in the year 2008. He informed the dignitary that the Cross LOC Trade was introduced as a major Confidence Building Measure involving all the stakeholders by it could not grow because of the lack of basic economic requirements and restrictions on the number of tradable products.
Mr. Ewald Poeran, MD, World Forum for Ethics in Business also extended an invitation to the delegation of the KCC&I for its next conference in the European Parliament which Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad accepted.
Mr. Kjell Magne Bondevik threw light on the importance of trade and commerce as an harbinger of peace and assured the delegation that their organization would be working in close coordination with the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry for ensuring effective interventions by all stakeholders. (KNS)