The High Commissioner of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to Pakistan, Dr WB Dorakumbure has stressed the need of adopting far-reaching polices for enhancing the bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Addressing the members of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Tuesday, the High Commissioner underscored the need of collective efforts for enhancing the volume at high degree between the two friendly countries. After entering into Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan has considerably been increased to US $300 million from US $63 million, he disclosed.
The High Commissioner on this occasion invited the business community of Pakistan to invest in Sri Lanka adding that the government of Sri Lanka would extend all possible facilities to the Pakistani investors.
Dr Dorakumbure further informed the house that previously Pakistan was the biggest buyer of Sri Lanka tea, which is globally known for quality adding that the import of tea from Sri Lanka was facing decline. He called upon the business community of Pakistan to focus on import of tea from Sri Lanka instead of importing it from Kenya and England.
The High Commissioner was of the opinion that combined efforts at this juncture were direly needed for developing the region aimed at lessening the dependency on foreign countries. He added, "without the mutual cooperation of the region we could not achieve the elevation of development of the region."
Dr Dorakumbure further stated that there is a wide scope for Pakistani business community for exploring business opportunities in Sri Lanka. Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Pakistan-Sri Lanka Business Council, Rehmatullah Javed urged upon the Pakistan government to introduce weekly Sialkot-Colombo direct flight to facilitate the business communities of both the countries.
Javed said that the SCCI should also come forward to play its instrumental role in enhancing the trade volume between the two friendly countries. In his address of welcome President SCCI, Dr Khurram Anwar Khawaja said that Pakistan attaches great importance to increase interaction, economic ties and trade relations with all the countries.
The President SCCI said that Pakistan enjoys favourable balance of payment with Sri Lanka and suggested that there is an unlimited scope of expanding trade ties between the two countries. To make progress in this regard he suggested active engagements of the chambers of Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which could act as resource base for exchanging information, exchange of trade delegations and holding of joint trade exhibitions.