Much potential exists to enhance bilateral trade relations between Pakistan and Jordan and several Jordanian companies have expressed keen interest in importing Pakistani products.
This was observed during the meeting of Pakistani delegation led by Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Chairman Tariq Ikram with the representatives of various Jordanian companies, while participating in "Re-Build Iraq" exhibition, being held at the Abadi Expo Centre, Amman from May 8.
According to message received here, Tariq Ikram accompanied by Ambassador of Pakistan Arif Kamal and the First Secretary of Pakistan at Amman Sajjad A. Seehar visited the exhibition. He also met with the Minister of Trade of Jordan Sharif Al Zoubi, who inaugurated the exhibition.
Welcoming the chief guest to the Pakistan pavilion, the EPB chairman briefed the minister on the export profile of Pakistan. The Jordanian minister took round of different Pakistani stalls that were set up in the exhibition.
Meanwhile, Tariq Ikram visited various stalls, including Derjani Group of Lebanon, which deals in the construction sector and Advertising Plastic Industries of Lebanon, which have showed interest in the industrial and commercial plastic pipes and their exports to Pakistan as well as joint ventures with the Pakistani companies.
The EPB chief encouraged them to outsource some of their products from Pakistan as well. The Derjani Group showed keen interest in the products being offered by Pakistan and decided to send a complete list of products to be imported from Pakistan to the EPB.
Later, the EPB would invite the Derjani Group to personally visit and meet the Pakistani companies with whom there could be a possible collaboration.
Tariq also met the representatives of Orient, one of the largest natural stone and marble processing companies from the West Bank, with offices set up in Jordan and Oman. He invited the company to visit Pakistan and explore joint ventures in marble and granite.
He also met Albert G. Aoun, Chairman of the IFP Group, the organiser of the Rebuild Iraq Exhibition. The IFP was offering to the Pakistani and all exhibitors' matchmaking sessions with prospective importers from Iraq who were visiting this exhibition.
The meeting was also joined by Khalid A. Al-Naif, Chief of Party and Roy A. Badaro, Business Management Services Director of IZDIHAR (Iraqi private sector growth and employment generation body) who have set up an association of the private sectors of Iraqi business community with the name of Ijma.
They said that they would like to initiate a new business relationship with the Pakistani business community and for that reason IZDIHAR, under the umbrella of Ijma proposed to visit Pakistan in June-July.
The EPB chairman proposed that the bureau could co-ordinate for holding a seminar in Karachi during those dates wherein Ijma, in co-ordination with the FPCCI could inform Pakistani companies about how to do business in Iraq and secondly visit around 10 to 15 companies in Pakistan for a first-hand look at the manufacturing capacity and capability of the Pakistani companies.
IJMA has shown keen interest in cement, pharmaceuticals, hospital supplies and furniture, surgical instruments, engineering goods, agricultural implements, dairy products, packaging for food items and confectionery.
Tariq Ikram also separately met with the representatives on the IZDIHAR, the Iraqi Investment agency, and discussed ways and means to encourage and enhance the bilateral trade between the two countries to the benefit of the private sectors of both the countries.
It was also informed that there are at least 20 Iraqi banks who are looking for joint ventures with foreign banks and Pakistani banks can also take advantage of this situation.
Tariq Ikram also met with some of the major warehousing companies based in Jordan and discussed with them the possibility of having a warehouse for the Pakistani exporters targeting Jordan and Iraq.
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