ISLAMABAD (APP) - The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Tuesday signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) with Institute of Cost Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP) for promotion of industry-academia linkages. On the occasion, ICCI President, Zahid Maqbool said that ICMAP was the only professional body with a sole focus on accounting for business with the purpose of regulating the profession of Cost and Management Accountants in the country. He said that the agreement would serve to strengthen the professional accounting links between the two organizations adding this will enable them to work together to enhance recognition of the profession. He said that there was need of promoting close liaison between academia and industry to promote businesses and improve the national economy, adding that the purpose of this MoU was to bridge the gap between academia and industry in Pakistan, develop market based curricula and produce demand driven qualified human resource. He said that this MoU will encourage both the organizations to conduct workshop, seminar and events, so that they could reap benefits to share their views. He said ICCI will encourage trade and industry to take more students from ICMAP for internship so that they could get a chance of practically applying their theoretical concepts in real business environment.