Pakistan and Bangladesh would share their respective sectoral strengths with each other for the economic well-being of the two countries while the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Bangladesh High Commission would act as a facilitator. This was agreed at a meeting between Bangladesh High Commissioner to Pakistan, Suhrab Hossain and LCCI President, Engineer Sohail Lashari here on Thursday.
Also present in the meeting were Honorary Consul General Qazi Humayun Fareed, SAARC CCI Vice President, Iftikhar Ali Malik, former VC of LCCI, Saeeda Nazar, LCCI Executive Committee Members Khawaja Khawar Rashid, Mian Tasharraf Javaid, Raja Hamid Riaz, Mian Maqsood Butt, Muhammad Aslam Chaudhry, Muhammad Afzal. There was a consensus that the two countries should share their strengths and weaknesses with each other at govt-to-govt and chamber-to-chamber levels to create a win-win situation as far as two economies are concerned.
It was also decided that the BD High Commission would collaborate with LCCI for "SAARC Exhibition" being organised by the LCCI within a few months. The Bangladesh HC speaking on the occasion, stressed the need for a proactive collaboration between the private sectors of the two sides to give fresh impetus to bilateral trade and economic relations. He urged Pakistani businessmen to take part in "International Expo" held in Bangladesh every year to further strengthen their liaison with their Bangladeshi counterparts. He said that both the sides can also initiate joint ventures in various sectors of the economy.
Hossain said that Pakistan and Bangladesh are two brotherly Islamic countries; therefore, maximum steps should be taken to strengthen our relations in all fields. This calls for intensive market research, single country exhibitions on reciprocal basis, frequent visits of trade delegations, exchange of socio-cultural programmes and close contact between trade bodies of the two countries.
Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI president said that the LCCI is planning to arrange a SAARC Exhibition in Lahore to further cement trade ties among neighbouring countries. He said that though trade between the two countries is growing progressively but more concrete steps are needed to enhance the economic ties. He said Pakistan can export cement, sugar, engineering goods, agriculture and transport equipment, electrical and non-electrical machinery and etc.
The regular interaction between private representatives can promote trade relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh, he added.Lashari further said that market research should be conducted regarding their range of products and priority should be given to each other for import of goods rather than buying from distant countries. He said that Pakistan and Bangladesh could also share experiences in the field of Small and Medium Enterprises development.
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