The Nepali Ambassador to Pakistan Bala Bahadur Kunwar has said that Nepal and Pakistan were enjoying highly cordial relations since long but there is still a great need of developing strong commercial ties between the two friendly countries.
Addressing the members of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Saturday evening he said we were making utmost efforts for developing trade and commerce relations with Pakistan on top priority basis. The ambassador stressed upon the exporters and manufacturers of Sialkot that they should explore Nepali market and concentrate on developing direct interaction with their counterparts.
The Nepali ambassador assured that Nepali embassy in Pakistan would extend full co-operation and assistance to the businessmen during their visit to Nepal. He further urged upon the businessmen that they should introduce their products like sports goods, leather, surgical instruments and hosiery in Nepali market.
He said that trade exhibition would be arranged in Nepal in collaboration with Sialkot Chamber of Industry (SCCI) in near future adding that the proposed trade exhibition would not only help in bringing closer the business communities of both the countries, but also be supportive in enhancing bilateral trade.
There were wide opportunities for Pakistani business community for opening new vistas of trade and commerce and their visit to Nepal would certainly supportive in ascertaining the possibilities of demands of Pakistani products in the market, he said. He ask the business community of Sialkot that they should concentrate on tracing the lower middle and middle class customers side-by-side America and European countries adding that Nepal could provide raw material for manufacturing of the products to the Pakistan businessmen.
The ambassador expressed the hope that business community of Sialkot would play its instrumental role in accelerating the pace of bilateral trade between the two friendly countries because the existing trade volume is at its lowest ebb.
In his address of welcome President SCCI Muhammad Ishaq Butt assured that business community of Sialkot would extend its full support in enhancing the trade between the two countries. It is encouraging that several bilateral agreements have been signed between the two countries in the field of trade, culture, agriculture and establishment of joint Economic Commission and Joint Business Council, he said.
The SCCI President further said that Pakistan and Nepal are signatories to South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) and members of South Asian Economic Union, which provides good opportunity for two countries to make the most of the benefits, available under the agreement for enhancing commercial co-operation.