Romania has invited Pakistani exporters, investors, entrepreneurs and industrialists to visit Romanian markets and enhance the trade and economic links between the two countries, particularly to seeking the participation of Pakistanis in June industrial exhibition in Romania.
"The trade volume between Pakistan and Romania has doubled during the last one year, but there is still a lot of room of improvement in the markets of the two countries for one another", said Romanian Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Emil Ghitulescu, here on Tuesday.
He was talking to the President Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), Hussain Ahmed Ozgen.
Dr Emil invited the RCCI members to take full dress part in the forthcoming industrial exhibition, to be held in Bucharest in June.
This exhibition would provide Pakistani entrepreneurs an opportunity to enter the European market, he said, and added: "Exhibitions are very good to boost industries.
"I had given to the government of Pakistan a proposal for holding exhibitions on regular basis and I am sure they will do it," he said.
He said that the current bilateral trade level of 20 million dollars between the two countries was very low, and the governments of both the countries should work to clear the irritants and promote trade relations. Dr Emil said that 620 joint ventures had been signed between Pakistan and Romania, which only amounted to 4.5 million dollar, he added.
He said both the countries had opportunities to start joint ventures in various fields like railway wagons, textile, agriculture machinery, including tractors and combined harvest, transport vehicles, fertiliser, steel products, chemicals, oil and gas equipment, and food processing etc.
Dr Emil told the RCCI President that a proposal of regular shipping service between the two countries was also considered. "Pakistan has assured to take it seriously for increasing trade volume between the two countries by reducing transportation charges," he said.
Romanian people, Dr Emil said, were very much interested in various Pakistani items, including textile, cotton made items, leather, sports material (particularly football), animal products and Kashmiri style furniture.
He said: "Romania is also interested in importing seafood, besides other items for increasing trade relations with Pakistan, aimed at promoting economic co-operation between the two countries."
The Romanian envoy informed the RCCI office-bearers that Romania had announced to give better incentives to foreign investors and a "tax-free zone" was set up in Romania.
Pakistani investors, he said, could take advantage from this unprecedented facility and invest in the Romania Industry.
Speaking next, RCCI President Hussain Ozgen told the Romanian envoy that the business community of Rawalpindi would definitely take part in Romanian industrial exhibition and play an effective role in bringing the two countries closer on the economic front.
Rawalpindi, he said, was the hub of the economic activities and being nearest city of the Central Asia, Afghanistan and China, it had its own importance. "The investors of Romania will find the atmosphere in Pakistan very conducive and could approach the Central Asia, China and Afghanistan by using Pakistani markets", he added.