Tunisian Ambassador to Pakistan Zahaier Dhaouadi has called upon Pakistan business community to use Tunisia as a platform to export products to Europe and increase the trade volume of Pakistan and Tunisia.
"Pakistan has problems in exporting its textile products and rice to Europe, while Tunisia has a fixed quota in Europe which would be used by Pak business community", Tunisian envoy said, while addressing the senior executives and members of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) here on Tuesday.
The Tunisian envoy visited the RCCI, where he was warmly welcomed by RCCI President Jalil Ahmed Malik and other senior executives of the Chamber.
Talking on implementation on World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dhaouadi said that it is need of hour that the trade and commerce atmosphere should be changed before the vfull implementation of the WTO. "Developing countries should fix their priorities regarding the trade and economy and set goals for future development in these important sectors", he added.
The Envoy said that Tunisia has trade agreements with Europe, and exports to Europe in shape of textile products particularly cotton is very high. "Pakistan has a good fame in cotton products and many other sectors so that Tunisia would provide Pakistani business community a great platform for exporting their goods to Europe", he added.
"Pakistani industrialists should use the export processing zones of Tunisia to improve their exports and buy a good market space in Europe", the envoy said, and added there is a good market space for Pakistani products like rice, leather goods, handicrafts, marble products, and textile items.
He called upon Pakistan business community to come to Tunisia and explore vistas for joint ventures and investment in different fields. "Our united efforts in trade, commerce and economic sectors would help the two countries strengthen, trade and commerce sectors and improve industrial capabilities", said Zahaier Dhaouadi. He stressed the need for fixation of sectors between two countries where two sides would set targets of import and exports between them.
Tunisia and Pakistan have very good historical relations, but these relations were not translated into the means of trade and commerce activities. He invited Pakistani industrialists and businessmen to visit Tunisia to explore Tunisian markets. Speaking on the occasion, RCCI President Jalil Ahmed Malik said the private sectors of Tunisia and Pakistan have a great role to play in enhancing the trade and commerce ties of the two sides and bring them at par with the historical relations of the two countries.
"It is high time to set a stage and provide infrastructure for strong trade relations in future and facilitate the private sector in playing its due role", he said, and added that the governments of two countries should provide facilities the industrialists and businessmen in their endeavours.