Islamabad (DNA). foreign diplomats from different Countries, visited the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), Capital Office, Islamabad, under the supervision of the Foreign Services Academy of Pakistan and met Mr. Irfan Iqbal Sheikh President FPCCI, Mr. Amin Ullah Baig, Vice President FPCCI & Incharge Capital Office, & Mr. Umar Masood ur Rehman, Vice President FPCCI. Farukh Alvi, Saima Dastagir, Uzma Shahid, Almas Akhtar, Shama Iqbal, Nadeem Mansoor Syed, Saboohi Hussain, Lubna Ali, Riaz Hussain Bhutto, Tahleel Mumtaz, Mahar Riaz, Syed Saddat Hussain Shah, Sameen Raja, Shabana Ajmal, Shumaila Atif, Waqar Younis, Talha Sami, Sami Ullah, Saif Ullah were also present on this occasion.Â
The delegation comprised Mr. Tural Hasanov, Second Secretary Azarbaijan, Mr. Md. Ziaur Rahman, Senior Asstt. Secretary Bangladesh, Mr. Svetoslav Ivaylov Lalov, Chief Export Bulgaria, Mr. Abel Perez Garcia, Desk Officer Cuba, Mr. Maciu Babiau Tubanavau Ratumiaimuri, Protocol Officer Fiji, Mr. Zemran Shamlal, Foreign Service Officer Guyana, Mr. Kisura Matogmah Haroon, Assistant Director Ghana, Mr. Younoussa Tirmakan Traore, Deputy Director Mali, Mr. Mohammed Salim Al Uwaisi, Third Secretary Oman, Mr. Jean Claude Rukundo, Senior Officer Rwanda, Mr. Madhuka Harshani Silva, Director Siri Lanka, Mr. Ismael Haider Alansari, Third Secretary Syrian Arab Republic, Mr. Hasan Civelek Engelkiran, Third Secretary Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
President FPCCI Mr. Irfan Iqbal Sheikh has underscored the need to focus on economic and trade diplomacy to enhance the country’s exports. He said that Information Technology was also another important area for enhanced cooperation where Pakistan’s tech companies could offer services and solutions. He also asked the diplomats to work towards inviting more wind power companies to invest in Pakistan’s energy sector, besides further expanding collaborations in the renewable energy sector. He further stated that there was great potential for cooperation in agriculture, food security, and human resource development, which should be fully tapped. He asked the diplomats to further improve trade and commercial relations by facilitating importers and exporters, besides reaching out to your country’s businessmen to explore the Pakistani market.
Mr. Amin Ullah Baig, Vice President FPCCI & Incharge Capital Office, said that it is surprising that despite substantial friendly relations the volume of our trade is low. He further said that FPCCI would be pleased to join hands with the diplomats to plan some activities that can play a supporting role in introducing more Pakistani products In different countries of the world. He said that Pakistani products are best and can easily cater to the needs of the international market. He further said a mechanism should be established to promote cooperation in all spheres of common interest to oversee cooperation in economic, commercial, and technical fields. Relevant national institutions should hold consultations on the prospects of cooperation in the fields of common interests. He further said that seminars and exhibitions should be organized in Pakistan and other countries to create awareness about each other’s products. It is essential to have an efficient system for the issuance of business visas.
Umar Masood ur Rehman told the foreign delegates that our major commodities of exports are textiles, clothing and apparel, rice, leather goods, and surgical instruments, while we mainly import refined petroleum, crude petroleum, natural gas, palm oil, and scrap iron. Umar Masood ur Rehman further said that apparantly the business and diplomatic experts look at two different poles but in actual sense both are interlinked. In the globalization regime business affairs are largely dependent on the Diplomatic affairs of the country. We consider a strong and influential Economic Diplomacy as the fundamental prerequisite for economic growth. Diplomats may be aware of the fact that our exporters are confronted with Non-Tariff barriers to trade within the region and other countries.
The diplomats agreed to organize and exchange trade and investment missions to further enhance bilateral trade and investments. During the meeting, they deeply discussed the trade and economic ties between Pakistan and their respective countries. The foreign diplomats showed keen interest in different sectors of Pakistan, They also pledged to make efforts to motivate their importers towards direct import from Pakistan instead of importing these products from other countries at high prices. These foreign diplomats discussed matters of mutual interest with members of FPCCI. The diplomats assured to make efforts to ensure easy access to exported Pakistani products to their countries.
