Philippine Chargé d'affaires in Pakistan Ms Maria Agnes Cervantes has said there are bright prospects of establishing joint ventures between the Philippines and Pakistan.
Talking to Business Recorder here on Saturday at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), she said the identification of trade fields was direly needed to set up joint ventures between both friendly countries.
"We are making strenuous efforts for strengthening the trade and economic ties with Pakistan", she said.
Ms Maria Agnes Cervantes was of the opinion that the trade and economic connectivity between the Philippines and Pakistan would help bring the businessmen of both countries closer and create better understanding for bringing considerable increase in bilateral trade.
She said that Philippine businessmen were keen to develop trade relations with their Sialkot-based counterparts in different trade fields.
Earlier, addressing the SCCI members, Ms Maria Agnes Cervantes said: "We are mobilising all resources to enhance the trade volume between the Philippines and Pakistan and cement the economic and trade relations between both countries."
The Philippine diplomat underscored the need for exchanging of trade delegations for assessing the trade fields as well as accelerating the pace of business activities between two friendly countries.
The exchange of trade delegations is imperative at this juncture to develop better understanding between the businessmen and bring them closer for sharing the views for promoting the trade activities, she added.
The diplomat said that the Philippines and Pakistan are enjoying cordial and friendly relations and through increased trade activities these relations would be further cemented.
She assured the SCCI members the Philippine Embassy would grant visa to the business community of Sialkot on the recommendation of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
SCCI President Dr Nouman Idris Butt, in his address of welcome, termed her visit to SCCI will result in promoting a better understanding and strengthening mutual economic relations between business communities of both friendly countries.
He said the exchange of trade delegations and one-to-one meeting of businessmen of both sides are crucial for improving bilateral trade for which both countries must ensure simple visa process for bringing big increase in the trade volume.