'Adequate efforts are needed to boost Pak-South African trade ties'

South African High Commissioner to Pakistan Mpendula Kumalo has said that adequate efforts would be made to boost trade, economic and investment relations between South Africa and Pakistan. Addressing the members of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Wednesday he said that South African investors would be motivated that they should invest in Pakistan.
The South African HC urged upon the Pakistani investors that they should also invest in South Africa in different fields adding that South Africa is a "Gateway" to African market and Pakistani investors and businessmen should come forward to initiate their business and get benefits adding that South Africa is country of vast potential and opportunities in trade and business.
He further said that there is great need of collective efforts for increasing the bilateral trade between the two countries and business communities of both the countries could play their significant role in this regard. In his address of welcome President SCCI, Sheikh Abdul Majid said that it is encouraging to note that Pakistan and South Africa are desirous of forging close relations with each other to achieve the goal of mutual economic benefits.
The SCCI president said that major bottleneck in promotion of trade ties is lack of timely information to business communities of Pakistan and South Africa about trade and business opportunities. The SCCI president further stated that Sialkot would greatly help in development of trade and commercial ties between Sialkot and South Africa in which SCCI is ready to play its instrumental role through mutual co-ordination and understanding with the Chambers of South Africa.
Earlier, the South African HC visited different factories and lauded the skill and craftsmanship of Sialkot and also appreciated the quality of products. Later, the HC also visited Sialkot International Airport. On this occasion Chairman Sialkot International Airport apprised the High Commissioner that Sialkot International Airport is the only project of its type in the country, built by the private sector is now functional. The international and domestic passenger and cargo flights are operating from the airport and the flight operations are on the rise with addition of new destinations, he added.