Pakistan and USA should develop youth exchange programs to enhance frequent interaction in their youth that will help in building long term and sustainable relationship between the two countries.

This was said by Ms Teresa Isaac, former Mayor of Lexington, Kentucky, USA while addressing a large number of young entrepreneurs at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI).

She said college level entrepreneurship clubs should be established in Pakistan as has been done in USA to promote the culture of entrepreneurship in youngsters.

She said top performing young entrepreneurs of different fields should be given prominent exposure at electronic media like in radio and TV shows to motivate other youngsters to come in the mainstream business world.

She said youth community in Pakistan is suffering from unemployment and government should give top priority to developing youth entrepreneurship so that they could be engaged in healthy economic activities.

She said Youth Committees should be formed to work with government authorities for developing youth friendly policies and initiatives. 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr.Zahid Maqbool, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that USA is the most advanced country in business development and it should provide financial and technical support to Pakistan for promoting youth entrepreneurship in the country.

He said USA should provide more scholarships to Pakistani students, especially in science, engineering, IT and business disciplines so that they could get advanced education in these fields and drive Pakistan fast on the road to progress and prosperity.

Shaban Khalid, Chairman, ICCI Youth Committee said that ICCI plans to establish a Youth Entrepreneurship Development Center in its premises. This facility will provide many services to aspiring young entrepreneurs including provision of career counseling, giving guidelines for starting business ventures, facilitating in venture capital support etc.