The visit of a high ranking 13-member trade delegation to Iran would result in increased trade and commercial relations between Pakistan and Iran. The delegation, led by Abdul Majid Haji Mohammad, which left here on October 6, was due to visit several cities and chambers and hold negotiations with their counterparts to promote trade between the two countries.
Ahmad Fasihi, Iran's Commercial Counsellor in Pakistan, told Business Recorder that in Tehran the delegation was scheduled to visit construction material exhibition at Iran International Fair Ground, besides Behtak Company, manufacturer and exporter of dairy milk and ice cream. A meeting was also arranged with Pakistan's Ambassador and Commercial Counsellor in Tehran.
In Sistan and Baluchistan province, the delegation was due to have a meeting with the Governor-General of the province and later was to pay a visit to Zahidan industrial towns, Chahbahar and its free zone and hold a meeting with the President of Zahidan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its Board of Directors. An MoU was also due to be signed at the end of delegation's visit.
During Ahmad Fasihi's stay in Pakistan as Commercial Counsellor of Iran several initiatives were taken to boost trade and commercial relations between the two brotherly countries. In particular, trade transaction (excluding oil) increased from $350 million in 2006 to over $800 million in 2009, showing a 250 percent increase.
Other measures include:
-- Serious endeavours were being made to hold first Pakistan's solo exhibition in Iran, and Iran's solo exhibition in Pakistan.
-- Distribution of several hundred brushers, catalogue and CDs among traders of both countries in an effort to identify the capabilities of Iran and Pakistan.
-- Holding meetings and consultations with over 8,500 Pakistani traders and company managers and directors in the Commercial Counsellor's office during the last four years.
-- Essential co-ordination was accomplished in having favourable thinking about the Consulate of Islamic Republic of Iran in Karachi as a result of dispatch of more than 4,000 Pakistani businessmen to Iran who were issued single and multiple visas.
-- Necessary co-ordination in receiving Iranian traders in Pakistan, which resulted in the visit of more than 350 different companies' managing directors and Iranian traders during the last four years.
-- Exchange of numerous trade delegations between the two countries which resulted in signing of 10 MoUs, and
-- Distribution of 2,500 leaflets detailing commodity items subject to Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) signed between the two countries in 2006.