An Austrian business delegation under the leadership of Richard Bandera, Trade Commissioner of Austria, visited Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Regional Office. Bruno Mellacher, Leonhard Lucki, Ing Rudolf Edlinger and Saleem Shamshi from Commercial Section of Austrian Embassy were also part of the delegation.
Richard Bandera said he is putting his all efforts to double Pak-Austria trade and some encouraging improvements are being shown. He appreciated the role of FPCCI in trade promotion and said the FPCCI and the Federation of Austrian Industries could mutually raise the opportunities of trade promotion.
FPCCI Vice President Manzoor-ul-Haq said the business community is always keen to develop strong bilateral trade relation with Austria. There are immense investment and joint ventures opportunities in various sectors like tourism, information technology, mines and minerals, dairy products and agriculture sector.
The FPCCI has established Business Councils with 140 countries of the world and the Austria Business Council is one of them which highlights our attention towards Austria as economic partner, he added. He said Pakistan's major exports to Austria have traditionally been cotton and related products, as well as leather products, carpets, clothing and sporting equipment. Austria imports machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods, oil and oil products, natural gas; foodstuffs and exports machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, foodstuffs.
Malik said trade delegations not only enhance trade and economic ties between the two countries but they are also source of getting essence of investment opportunities, therefore most important and right sector could be focused while visas should be issued on recommendation from trade bodies and Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry.