As Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has embarked upon exploring new markets for local products especially to Russia and CIS Region. There is a vast potential of Russian market for Pakistani products especially for rice, fresh fruits and vegetable, sea food, meat, poultry, textile, leather items, surgical instruments and so on.
Unfortunately this potential had not been exploited in the past which is reflected from the export figures of just $100 million from Pakistan to Russia. These figures are minimal when compared to the total imports of Russia, which is around $190 billion per annum.
In this regard, Pakistan Russia Business Forum (PRBF) had several meetings with high level officials of the TDAP for sending a delegation to Russia. In response, TDAP planned a very high level business delegation to different parts of Russia comprising of leading businessmen with diversified background. In this regard Shahid Latif Khan, DG-TDAP, and Illyas Ghori (Minister Trade - Embassy of Pakistan in Moscow) chalked out a very comprehensive schedule of meetings to be held in different parts of Russia including Moscow, Yekaterinbug, Kazan and Saints Petersburg.
The visit of the delegation created an appreciable goodwill and understanding in Russia. The visit has left a positive impression within the Russian State and private organisations. Head of delegation Tariq Rafi explained in detail about the economic situation in Pakistan and expressed the willingness of Pakistani Trade Community to improve the trade and economical relations between the two nations and proposed many concrete ideas in this regard.
The arrangement of the meetings with the Russian Chamber, City Government in different cities, government officials as well airline tickets and other arrangements were made by the trade mission of Pakistan in Moscow in an excellent manner. After attending the meetings, the delegates expressed their complete satisfaction on all the arrangements. All delegates termed this visit a great success.
The delegation recommend that following measures to be adopted in order to increase business and trade volume with Russian Federation: Establishment of banks branches in Moscow and Karachi by both countries; establishment of warehousing cum offices facility in both countries; frequent exchange of trade delegations; Government of Pakistan can finalise contracts with Russian companies for balancing modernisation and revamping of Pakistan Steel Mills; Ministry of Commerce should study prospects for signing of Free Trade Agreement with Russian Federation; PIA and Aeroflot should start at least once a week flight between Moscow and Karachi to solve the problem of repayments; Exhibitions in all Russian exhibition centres commonly known as "Vdenkha" and "Vvetse" should be held under professional event managers - "Textileg Prom" ie Textile Expo Exhibition Managers.
TDAP played a key role in arranging the visit of the delegation to Russia in order to open this new market to exporters. All the arrangements regarding meetings, inland travel of the delegates and their visits to various warehouses and other companies were made by Ilyas Ghori, Minister (Trade) Embassy of Pakistan, Moscow in an excellent manner.-PR