Leader of Indian trade delegation and former President Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Ashok Kumar Barat has called for establishing Pakistan, India Joint Research Centre.
Speaking at a meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here on Thursday, he said that the joint research centre would help develop business data, companies' details and other beneficial information, which will help boost two-way trade.
He advised business communities of both the countries to approach their regulators and governments to formulate joint business polices. He said that the trade between India and Pakistan was beneficial for both the countries. He was of the view that the people of India and Pakistan have same culture, tradition and they look like one family. He said that Karachi and Bombay chambers of commerce were making efforts to eliminate tariff barriers to boost bilateral trade.
He termed Mumbai and Karachi as natural partners in trade and commerce, which should come closer to complement each other. Growing relations between Bombay Chamber and the Karachi Chamber would further ease the problems faced by the business community of both countries, he added.
Referring to the role of governments in improving trade ties, Barat said the two sides seemed to be sincerely trying to understand each other's problems in trade and commerce. "The process is slow, but it is going to bring change soon. The business communities should patiently wait for some time to see things moving fast."
Referring to visa problems of business community, he said that both the sides were facing similar problems in getting visa. "Efforts are being made to resolve these problems on priority basis," he added. President KCCI Mian Abrar Ahmed said that the business communities of India and Pakistan broke the cold ice between the two countries last year when Indo-Pak commerce secretaries urged the Indo-Pak private sectors to play their role to enhance bilateral trade.
He said that efficient utilisation of platform of Bombay-Karachi Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry would bring more productive results, open windows of opportunities of growth and access to huge consumers markets on both sides.
Both the chambers had started the joint activities last year like by issuing visa recommendation letters and exchanging trade information to facilitate their members and to bring together the business community of the two countries, he added.
He announce that KCCI would also like organize exhibition "Made in Pakistan" in Mumbai in collaboration with Bombay Chamber in the end of this year or next year.