Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim said on Monday that his visit would open avenues for the businessmen of Pakistan and India and boost bilateral trade. He was talking to media before his departure for Mumbai, India, at Karachi Airport. The Minister is leading a 60-member delegation of Pakistani businessmen on the invitation of Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma.
The delegation is consisting of exporters of 28 items including textiles, cement, agro good, plastics, petroleum, engineering, leather, etc. He said the visit would be positive and make Pak-India business relations more stronger in times to come. It may be noted that Amin Fahim is the first Commerce Minister who is leading a Pakistani businessmen delegation after a lapse of more than 30 years.
Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has organised this delegation, in collaboration with Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Pakistan High Commission in India. More than 250 business-to-business meetings have been arranged between Indian and Pakistani business in Mumbai and New Delhi. Besides, two business conclaves will be held in Mumbai and New Delhi.
Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood and TDAP Chief Tariq Puri are accompanying the senior federal Minister for Commerce, besides leading business leaders. Currently, Pakistan's exports to India stand at dollars 300 million, while the imports from India are more than dollars 1.5 billion.
Pakistani side will highlight numerous non-tariff barriers, which are impeding bilateral trade growth during meetings with Indian officials and businessmen. Moreover, this visit is an attempt by Pakistan, to create an atmosphere of goodwill and trust, which is expected to strengthen the Composite Dialogue taking place between the two countries.
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