SIALKOT, Aug 16 (DNA):Ambassador Park Ki Jun of the Republic of Korea has called on Sialkot exporters to seize opportunities in Korea’s international trade markets to enhance bilateral trade between Pakistan and Korea.
He made these remarks during a meeting with exporters at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Friday. The meeting was attended by Abdul Ghafoor Malik, President of SCCI; Wahub Jahangir, Senior Vice President (SVP) of SCCI; Yeonjeong Yoo, Assistant Public Diplomacy Officer; and members of the Sialkot business community.
In his address, Ambassador Park highlighted Korea’s strong interest in deepening trade and economic ties with Pakistan, emphasizing the potential of Pakistan as a significant market for business. He proposed further promoting bilateral trade through the exchange of trade delegations and expressed his commitment to strengthening trade relations between the two countries.
Ambassador Park also stressed the importance of enhancing people-to-people contacts between Korean and Pakistani business communities. He underscored that economic cooperation between Korea and Pakistan is crucial for boosting trade ties and noted the cordial relationship enjoyed by both nations.
The ambassador praised Sialkot for its role as a key export hub in Pakistan and recognised its contributions to the national economy and infrastructure development. He expressed enthusiasm for exploring new opportunities for collaboration between South Korea and Sialkot, promising full support in facilitating business matchmaking for delegates visiting South Korea.
Ambassador Park lauded the unique export culture of Sialkot and the self-help-driven socio-economic development achieved by its exporters. He also showed interest in the SCCI documentary “Sialkot, the City of Progressive People,” which was screened during the meeting.
In his remarks, President Abdul Ghafoor Malik described Ambassador Park’s visit as a testament to the enduring relationship between Pakistan and Korea. He highlighted that 2023 marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, emphasizing the milestone as a commitment to future growth and cooperation.
President Malik noted that the bilateral trade between Pakistan and Korea currently stands at USD 1.77 billion and expressed optimism about increasing this figure. He suggested that exchanging trade delegations could create new business opportunities and collaborations.
Malik also mentioned plans for a Sialkot delegation to visit South Korea later this year and requested support for visa processing and business matchmaking events. He advocated for stronger ties between the Chambers of Commerce in both countries and recommended issuing long-term business visas for Pakistani exporters.
Additionally, Malik outlined various Sialkot Chamber projects, including the Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL), the Sialkot Dryport Trust, the Sialkot City Development Program, the Sialkot Export Processing Zone, the Sialkot Business and Commerce Centre, the Sialkot Tannery Zone, the Child Social Development Organization, and AirSial.
Ambassador Park Ki Jun appreciated President Malik’s suggestions and acknowledged the global reputation of Sialkot’s products for their quality and durability. The meeting concluded with the Sialkot business community offering valuable suggestions for increasing trade cooperation between the two countries.
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