MoU with Sargodha Chamber of Commerce and Industry to uplift agriculture, local industry
The University of Sargodha and Sargodha Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together for the uplift of local agriculture sector and industry.
The MoU was inked by the Vice Chancellor Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad and President SCCI Mirza Fazal ur Rehman on July 26, 2019.
The MoU aims at enhancing domestic as well as international competitiveness, dissemination of information and training as well as capacity building of upcoming entrepreneurs.
AREAS OF COOPERATION
- Internship opportunities for suitable students of the University at various organizations/industries
- Joint research and development projects
- SCCI sponsored research on industrial need-based projects
- Outreach program for training and counseling of the local farmers, particularly citrus growers
- Research and training facilities on value addition in various food commodities to the local growers and industry
- Training for local food industrialists on food handling & processing, food safety and establishment of cottage industry
- Cooperation in business, research and sharing of resources for the uplift of business activities inside the country
- Joint efforts to mobilize resources for promotion of quality education at the University
Addressing the signing ceremony, Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad said that as a higher education institution, Sargodha University is not only providing quality education to the students but also trying to give input on policy making and facilitating industry through productive research. It’s our prime responsibility to deliver to this region and take tangible measures for its social and economic development, he added.
Mirza Fazal ur Rehman was of the opinion that universities and chambers are the premier contributor of policy advocacy, trade investment, productivity and sustainable economic development in the knowledge based economy therefore, SCCI and Sargodha University should mutually develop a strategy to seek research-based and scientific solutions to the problems and challenges faced by the local industry especially the citrus growers and exporters.
He invited two scientists of the University solely involved in research on citrus to be a part of the chamber’s delegation to visit Spain in September for examining +100 Spanish citrus varieties and to figure out how such varieties can be developed in Sargodha.
At the ceremony, delegates of the chamber and industry and representatives of the university including Dr Afzal, Dean Faculty of Agriculture, Dr Fazal-ur-Rahman, Director Pakistan Institute of China Studies, Dr Ghulam Ali Bhatti, Director Noon Business School, Dr Anjum Murtaza, Director Institute of Food Science and Nutrition agreed to put their efforts together to produce A class seedless citrus that could be exported to the major foreign markets at higher rates.
