The Ambassadors of Yemen and Libya visited Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Friday and discussed various issues pertaining to enhancement of trade with the business community of Sialkot.
Addressing SCCI members, Yemen's Ambassador Abdul Elah Mohamed Hajar said that Yemen and Pakistan are enjoying highly cordial and brotherly relations and, with the passage of time, these ties would further be cemented.
Yemen is a big market for Pakistan's products. Besides, it has many potentials like raw material for many industries, cheap and clever labour and preferential facility to export products to USA and European Sates, he said.
Hajar said that Yemen and Pakistan have developed excellent relations due to the exchange of visits of leaders of the two brotherly countries and high officials and by establishing joint ministerial commission.
Besides, a number of agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) have been signed in the fields of oil, gas, promotion of exports, trade and investment and agriculture, he added. These agreements, he said, form a base and assistance to the businessmen in both countries to develop relations. He said that his visit to SCCI would help in exploring many opportunities and possibilities of trade and investment in Yemen and Pakistan.
The Ambassador said that Yemen has been Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member of some of its organs since 2001, and advanced steps have been taken recently for acquiring full membership.
Libyan Ambassador Ibrahim E Mukhtar Henitish said that there are bright opportunities of joint ventures for Pakistan's business community in various fields including construction and trade. He called upon the business community of Sialkot to focus on developing and expanding trade opportunities between the two brotherly countries. Both Libya and Pakistan are enjoying amiable relations and efforts are being made for further consolidating the existing brotherly relations, he added.
In his address of welcome, the President of SCCI, Abdul Waheed Sandal, said that both Yemen and Libya provide various opportunities to the items produced in Sialkot like sports goods, surgical instruments, leather products, textile and sports wear etc.
"These are meant exclusively for export to USA, Canada and Europe but we wish to supply these products to all parts of the world, especially to the Islamic countries."
He said that Pakistan attaches great importance to increase interaction, economic ties and trade with its Islamic brotherly countries. The vivid fact is that presently bilateral trade between Pakistan and Yemen and between Pakistan and Libya was not encouraging but future opportunities are bright, he added. The SCCI chief said that the meeting would definitely help in creating better understanding between the business communities of Yemen and Libya.