October 7, 2020: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES (P@SHA) and the IT Association (ITA) of South Africa today, for cooperation and enhancement of the IT and IT enabled Services (ITeS) sector in both countries. Considering the current global COVID-19 situation, both parties signed the MOU through a virtual conference call. The signatories included P@SHA Chairman, Barkan Saeed, and President ITASA Mr. Thabo Mofokeng. The Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan in South Africa, Mr. Adnan Javaid, and Commercial Secretary Ms. Humaira Israr and Executive Member of ITA, Mr. Stan Molema were also participants in the signing ceremony. The Commercial Secretary was commended for her efforts to make this happen. The participants also thanked the efforts of outgoing P@SHA Chairman, Shahzad Shahid who has also actively driven this initiative.

The MoU will facilitate both organizations in creating and expanding avenues for organizing and holding exhibitions, business to business matchmaking conferences (both physical and virtual), and other business-related events in the two countries. The other points of the signed memorandum include creating a more cordial relationship between the two party associations, P@SHA and ITASA, through increased cooperation among the IT/ITES businessmen, and entrepreneurs of the two countries. To cater to the shared interest of operational cooperation and information exchange, the memorandum also highlights the focus of friendly policies that can help the growth of IT sectors in both countries. The MoU will also facilitate the business communities of both countries to participate in different national and international conferences.