Business Association Development

A significant part of CIPE’s strategy in Pakistan concerns the evaluation of chambers and business associations currently operating in the country. This diagnostic is a first step in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of these institutions which will enable CIPE to increase organizational capacity and help become a more effective voice for the business community. CIPE hopes that programming will have an especially strong impact on the small business community and hence improve the business environment in Pakistan.

To complete the diagnostics survey, CIPE Washington contracted an expert consultant Mr. John T. Garman, who has held senior positions at various US Chambers and is experienced in confronting a wide range of chamber and association reform issues. Mr. Garman visited Pakistan and carried out the diagnostics with the assistance of CIPE staff. Mr. Garman also trained CIPE Pakistan in survey and analysis techniques for discovering and organization’s strengths and weaknesses.

From December 6 to early 2006, CIPE Pakistan carried out the first diagnostic survey of 22 sample chambers and associations across Pakistan:
 

• Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industries (FPCCI)
•  Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI)
•  Pakistan Software House Association (P@SHA)
•  Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries (HCCI)
•  Sind Abadgar Board, Hyderabad
•  Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FCCI)

• Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industries (LCCI)

From the various meetings held during the diagnostics process, it seems that there is a strong need of chambers to develop not only structurally, but in terms of human resources, research and development, advocacy, and communication skills. CIPE Pakistan observed strong interest, a friendly reception, and willingness by most of the chambers and business associations surveyed to work with CIPE in getting technical assistance. There is a great appreciation for CIPE’s work, due to the fact that CIPE is the first overseas organization to show interest in reforming the chambers.

Technical Assistance
CIPE provided technical assistance to chambers of commerce and associations through a series of training programs for the managing committees and staff throughout Pakistan. The topics covered included policy advocacy, financial management, marketing, and public relations. The workshops were conducted by international training experts, like Mr. Jack Cox from the US and Dr. Masood Butt from the UK.
It was encouraging that the workshop was also attended by a sizeable number of women participants from various business associations. According to the participants of the workshops, there is a strong need to establish a business association’s forum incorporating the executive teams to strengthen their infrastructure and build their capacity to become more democratic and empowered through enhancement of skills, acquirement of knowledge and improvement of attitude. This can easily be facilitated through web-based communication. There was a general feeling that the participating organizations will be able for some financial contribution towards it. There is keen interest in securing further capacity building training and consultancy due to the lack of such opportunities in Pakistan to chambers and trade associations. As one participant said, “There has been no history of such training taking place in Pakistan”.

To provide a ready reference guide, CIPE also distributed its handbook 21st Century Business Associations to all chambers and trade associations across Pakistan. More than 150 board and staff members benefited from CIPE’s technical assistance during the year.

CIPE hosted a focus group to promote the concept of good corporate governance in business associations, which provided an opportunity for business associations to voice their issues and concerns as well as address possible solutions. Participants, representing a wide cross-section of business associations, agreed on the need to follow good corporate governance principles in business associations in Pakistan.


BUSINESS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION GRANTS
To help build the capacity of chambers of commerce and trade associations in Pakistan, CIPE Pakistan provides targeted assistance and support to selected organizations. Grantees are chosen through a competitive selection process. Following six organizations have been selected in 2007 and 2008 respectively:
1. Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry : Women Entrepreneurs’ Resource Center
Under CIPE’s Grant, the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) launched a Resource Center to assist and empower its 400 women members. The resource center provides advice and training to women entrepreneurs on starting a business, access to finance, operational management, and other topics. In the future the resource center will be made available to women entrepreneurs across the province of Punjab. Since the opening of the resource center, More than 30 women’s businesses have become chamber members. For further details, visit http://www.lcci.com.pk/.

2. Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry : Directory compilation and development of business awareness in women entrepreneurs
Under this project, the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) organized a training and awareness workshop on microfinance for women entrepreneurs. Seventy-five women from Peshawar and adjoining areas attended the workshop. As a continuing series of training workshops and seminars, SCCI organized seminars on “How to Start a Small Business” and “The Role of Trade Bodies in Helping Small Businesses”.

3. Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry : Electronic membership database, computerization of chamber, and website development
The Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) computerized its business processes and compiled an electronic database of its membership for integration with its accounts module, member’s library, and other data. QCCI also created a portal to find contact information for its members online. This will improve the ability of the chamber to communicate with its members and help members work together on common issues. For more details, visit www.qcci.org.pk.

4. Sukkur Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Website development and online members’ database.
The Sukkur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) have successfully developed a website and an online member database to better assist and promote the chamber activities. It provides members with information including chamber news and announcements, relevant articles, business material and members’ information. In addition to it the SCCI also has developed a monthly newsletter to highlight policy issues and advocacy campaigns in which the chamber is involved. For more details, visit www.sukkurcci.org.pk

5. Mardan Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Training Resource Center
Mardan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) undertook to establish a training and resource center with the capacity to develop entrepreneurial, business and computer skills. MCCI also conducted weekly skill based trainings, six entrepreneurial workshops for women and two on microfinance for local banks.

6. Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Improve membership services through access to various information resources.
Under this grant, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) undertook to conduct a training needs assessment survey of its members in order to determine the services it can offer to its members. The survey results were used to establish business support services to fulfill the needs identified. ICCI also undertook to conduct a series of workshops on youth and women entrepreneurship. For more details, visit www.icci.org.pk

 

Training Module on Financial Management for Chambers and Trade Associations CIPE organized a training workshop for chamber and trade associations to increase their knowledge of financial management requirements in business associations and gain a clear understanding of improved financial systems. Read more in PDF
Training Module on Marketing & PR Development for Chambers and Trade Associations CIPE also organized a training workshop for chamber and trade associations to increase their knowledge of marketing & PR development and developing marketing plan. Read more in PDF
Developing Activity Plan for Chambers and Trade Associations Upon request from Ministry of Commerce, CIPE planned and delivered a presentation of “Developing Activity Plan” to secretaries and staff of business associations from across Pakistan. Read presentation in PDF
Effective Budgeting for Chambers and Trade Associations CIPE prepared and delivered a presentation on “Effective Budgeting” with the help of international consultant, Jack Cox, to staff of business associations from across Pakistan.  Read presentation in PDF
Membership Development for Chambers and Trade Associations CIPE also prepared and delivered a presentation on “Membership Development” to staff of business associations from across Pakistan.  Read presentation in PDF
Public Policy Advocacy for Chambers and Trade Associations CIPE prepared and delivered a presentation on “Effective Public Policy Advocacy” with the help of international consultant, Jack Cox, to staff of business associations from across Pakistan.  Read presentation in PDF

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