It is a great honor and pleasure for me to extend my views on the auspicious occasion of National Day of Russian Federation the 12th June. History has proved that Russia has always come forward to assist Pakistan in its difficult times, be it industrialization, economic cooperation, earthquake rehabilitation or fight against international terrorism. Presently the people of Pakistan are experiencing the most difficult and crucial phase of their history. It is my firm belief that the Government and the people of Russia will once again cooperate with Pakistan to overcome its difficulties in all aspects.
I am sure that Russia will also cooperate with Pakistan in the development of scientific research, power-generation, oil & gas, coal mining, industrialization & agriculture machinery etc.
In spite of Global economic crises the Government of Pakistan and Russia can find the ways to sustain the present trade volume as well as further enchantment of it. I suggest signing Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), which will finally lead to Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries. After signing FTA, it will be easy for both the countries to have access to each other's market by reducing the duties on items of special interest eg Russia can consider in reducing the duties on Pakistan's consumer goods specially textile products, Fruits & Vegetables, rice and sports goods, where as Pakistan can reduce the duties on imports from Russian specially on iron and steel products, agricultural machinery and engineering goods. This will help in reducing the cost of production in PakistanIn my view both the countries have similarities in terms of business opportunities, foreign investment policies & expertise in their respective field.
Keeping in view the new economic strategy, the Russian Govt. gives special consideration to Pakistan and offered promotion of bi-lateral trade in various commodities. The business community highly praised the dynamic personality of S.M. Muneer, Former Chief Executive Trade development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) who upon the instruction of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, took first delegation to Moscow and St. Petersburg in September 2015 and took another high profile trade delegation of 20 members to UFA, Kazan and Moscow from 30th May to 7th June 2016 to resolve all the impediments in promotion of bilateral trade between the two countries. Thanks to Al mighty Allah, that the both the delegation achieved all its targets that will help to surge the export of Pakistan up to 1 billion dollars to Russia in couple of years.
A high level of trade delegation under the leadership of President FPCCI Zubair Tufail will be visiting Russia in September/October 2017. A single Country exhibition in respective countries are also in the agenda of PRBC. I would like to urge the business community of Pakistan that they must not miss the opportunities lying in the Russian Federation and must continue having B2B interaction with their respective areas of business interests.
As Chairman, Pakistan Russia Business Council of FPCCI, I wish to extend to the Government and friendly people of Russia the warmest greetings and best wishes on the occasion of National Day of Russian Federation and to express my hope that our relations will develop more actively for the mutual benefit of the two countries.