The Belgium Ambassador to Pakistan, Peter Claes has said that his country keen to enhance bilateral trade with Pakistan. At present the volume of bilateral trade is about $1 billion and hopefully it would be further increased in coming days, he added. Addressing the members of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Wednesday, he said that Belgium and Pakistan are enjoying high cordial relations and with the passage of time these relations would be strengthened.
The Belgian ambassador said that Belgium Embassy in Pakistan has focused attention on granting visa to businessmen and students, adding that frequent visitors of business community would be granted one year visa for business purposes.
"The Belgium Embassy in Pakistan will extend all possible support and assistance to the business community in obtaining visa without any hurdle," he mentioned.
On this occasion he lauded the efforts of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) for preparing documentary film entitled "Sialkot the City of Opportunities" for projecting the industrial sector of the city. There is a great need of promoting and projecting the quality products of Sialkot abroad for attracting the foreign buyers, he added.
In his welcome address President SCCI, Dr Sarfraz Bashir said the volume of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Belgium reached to US $810 million during 2012. The SCCI president stressed the need of more co-operation at government and private sectors' levels for further enhancing trade and economic co-operation. In this regard it is important that consolidated information is provided to Pakistani and Belgian companies regarding all aspects of identification of trade, business and investment opportunities in both countries, he said.