On the invitation of President Musharraf, the President of Albania Alfred Moisiu along with 12-member delegation will pay a working visit to Pakistan from 27-29 August, 2004.
The delegation will include Chairman of Defence Committee, General Chief of Staff of the Army and his diplomatic, political ad military advisors, an official announcement said here on Thursday.
During his visit to Islamabad, Alfred Moisiu would call on the President during which bilateral relations, Indo-Pakistan relations, situation in Iraq and ways and means of enhancing trade and economic collaboration would be discussed. The Chairman of Senate Mohammadmian Soomro would also meet with the President of Albania with a view to enhancing inter-parliamentary co-operation between the two countries.
Pakistan and Albania enjoy close and friendly relations. Albania became a member of the OIC in 1992. Since then the goodwill that existed between the two countries has considerably enhanced. The two countries co-operate with each other at the international fora. Pakistan has consistently supported Albania and its efforts both at the bilateral level, within the OIC and in the UN Commission of Human Rights on the Kosovo tragedy. Bilateral trade relations with Albania are at present modest with two way trade figures at around 0.5 million dollars.
Our major exports to Albania include cotton fabric, surgical instruments, synaptic fabrics, and clothing. There is a vast scope of establishing joint ventures with Albania in the field of energy, oil, gas, mining and agriculture.
The visit of the Albanian President would not only add substance to the existing friendly relations but would also strengthen trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Albania.