Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Vice President, Riaz Khattak has called for further strengthening bilateral trade relations between Pakistan and Islamic Republic of Iran. Talking to Mostafa Razavi Zadeh, Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of Iran, Khattak said KP has rich hydropower resources and we want that Iranian companies will come and invest here to tap the hydropower sector.
He said as people of KPK and Iranian have almost common culture and heritage and that's why business community of KP desire to make strong footing towards Iran to facilitate bilateral trade. Similarly, he said Pakistan has a rich potential in the sector of marble and granite which also needs a symbol of attention for the Iranian companies. In this regard, FPCCI KP chapter would send a delegation in the month of May to visit different chambers of Iran to invite and promote B2B interactions.
FPCCI Regional Standing Committee on Horticulture Exports, Chairman Ahmad Jawad said, "We were thankful to the President of Iran that they chose Pakistan as a first official visit after execution the Iran deal, which showed that Pakistan has a great importance for the government of Iran and we welcome the proposal of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the Iranian side which helps to strengthen the bilateral trade volumes.
Even after lifting the sanctions from Pakistan side, he said our business community was eager to start the trade with Iran, especially in the sector of halal meat, kinnows and rice and requested that Agriculture Ministry of Iran may expedite the SOP's of phytosanitary requirements Jawad also floated the proposal to the Iranian Commercial Counsellor that Iran Agriculture Ministry and our Ministry of Commerce may grant special tariff concession for the fresh fruits and vegetables of KP in the upcoming FTA draft. As KP have a rich potential, we have a delicious fruits in the mountainous region and due to favourable climatic conditions mostly produce were organic which I think once it will reached on the Irani soil, the people of Iran would love to eat, he added.
He also invited the embassy officials to visit FPCCI Regional Office Peshawar and meet KP horticulture exporters so that both sides may exactly know what the common opportunities are? Mostafa Razavi welcomes the FPCCI officials and appreciated the eagerness towards Pak-Iran trade. He said in the recent moot both sides have agreed to lay down the proposals for strengthen trade. From our side, Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture and Pakistan Ministry of Commerce may jointly engage to tap the opportunities. He also lauded for the revival of banking channels which was long awaited and appreciated that HBL will open their branch in Iran soon which is very much needed.
Razalvi further told that we are here to facilitate similarly FPCCI may start close liaison with the Pakistan commerce ministry for timely execution in all matters including FTA proposal. As before, Iran granted only 10 percent preferential duty access in the preferential trade agreement (PTA), but once FTA will signed, 90 percent preferential duties shall be available for Pakistani commodities which would be great relief for the business community of Pakistan, he remarked.
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