Chairman of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry's (FPCCI) standing committee on horticulture and food exports Ahmad Jawad said that preferential trade agreement and availability of the banking channels will boost bilateral trade between Russia and Pakistan.
Speaking to the Embassy of Russian Federation's Minister Counsellor Dr Alexander G. Khozin, Jawad said trade is the ultimate solution to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. FPCCI always gave importance to Russia as an important partner. In today's scenario, without economic activity no economy can survive.
Highlighting the importance of further increasing bilateral trade between Russia and Pakistan, he said currently trade stood around $500 million which needs to be increased. Though this year Pakistan's exports to Russia grew by four per cent in agriculture products, still there is a room for further growth in Kinnow (mandarin), potato and other horticulture products.
Pakistan has the potential to penetrate up to 100,000 tons of mandarin in the upcoming season and in this regard, private sector of both the countries may interact on priority with the help of their Trade Representation, he added. Jawad also invited a delegation of Russian Chambers of Commerce to visit Pakistan for strengthening the b2b interaction with FPCCI. Alexander Khozin said that the FPCCI could play a pivot role in enhancing bilateral trade between the two countries. He said that a meeting of Pakistan-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission which is scheduled to be held in November will discuss core issues. Russian Federation's trade representative Dmitry A. Vikhlyaev also attended the meeting.