The leader of Iran trade delegation from Mashad and Vice President of Development of Human Resources, M H Kamranfar, has emphasised the need for establishing banking channel for enhancing two-way trade.
Speaking at a meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Tuesday evening, he said that both countries have lot of potential to boost two-way trade. However, the trade relations were not reflective of the true potential.
He said that the purpose of the visit by the delegation was to develop person to person contact with Pakistani counterparts to improve trade and economic ties Commercial Counsellor of Iran, Ahamad Fasihi, expressed hope that with the removal of existing hurdles in the way of trade, and establishing an Iranian bank branch in Pakistan, and a Pakistani bank branch in Iran, the trade volume in the current year would reach over one billion dollars. He said that last year Pakistan's export to Iran increased by 80 percent as compared to previous year, and touched 279 million dollars.
Likewise, Iran's exports to Pakistan increased by 11 percent to 278 million dollars.He said that despite a high potential level, the volume of bilateral trade of the two countries is about 560 million dollars (excluding oil). "That is indeed insufficient". He said he hoped that Pak-Iran gas pipeline projects was likely to be completed in the next three years.
President of KCCI, Abdul Majid Haji Mohammad said that the chamber has taken up the issue of establishing Pakistani bank branch in Iran and Iran bank branch in Pakistan with Prime Minister of Pakistan. He said that non-existence of bank braches was impeding development of two-way trade.