LMKT and LMKR Join Pakistan’s Delegation at 6th SAARC Business Leaders Conclave

LMKT and LMKR co-founders Shabana Khan and Atif Rais Khan joined other prominent business leaders from the SAARC countries at the 2018 SAARC Business Leaders Conclave.

The conference, which was held in Kathmandu, Nepal, from March 16 to March 18, aimed to promote investment, innovation and entrepreneurship in the region through regional trade and economic integration. A key issue highlighted during the conference was that of women empowerment.

During a panel discussion on the topic, Shabana stressed that “women’s economic empowerment is paramount in achieving gender equality, poverty eradication and inclusive economic growth.”

“It is high time that South Asian countries truly collaborated for the economic prosperity of its people,” said Atif. He further added, “improved connectivity creates a win-win situation for all participating countries through enhanced trade, investment, infrastructure, tourism, people-to-people linkages, and cultural exchanges. Technology can be a key driver in improving connectivity.”

For the countries in the SAARC region, connectivity remains a key challenge. Economic growth and integration needs efficient infrastructure within the country and connectivity among countries within the region. According to World Bank’s findings, South Asia needs 2.5 trillion US dollar worth of investment to bridge the infrastructure gap. Infrastructure especially those infrastructures which connects markets and producers from across national borders, provides the biggest opportunity for partnership within the region.