FAISALABAD: Argentinean Ambassador Ivan Ivanissevich on Wednesday called for specific measures and collective efforts to raise bilateral trade volume between Pakistan and Argentina.
Exchanging views during his visit to Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) here, the Argentinean Ambassador said that the business communities of both countries must join hands and work together for improving trade ties by regularly participating in exhibitions, organizing trade delegations and other such trade promotional activities in both countries.
He said that 60 percent of Argentina’s textile products were being imported and the remaining 40 percent were being produced locally whereas the textile clothing imports had also witnessed an upsurge of 27 percent in 2016, which was an opportunity for Pakistani textile producers to benefit from the situation.
He said that although Pakistan had been exporting various products including textiles, clothing, sports and leather goods etc., yet the exporters had to look for more possibilities of enhancing their share in the Argentinean market and they must focus on branding which was very essential in all the fields.
Commenting on Chairman PTEA’s comments about investment opportunities in Pakistan, he opined that there were opportunities for Argentinean farmers to invest and cooperate in the agriculture sector. “We can share our knowledge to improve yield and also assist in improving the irrigation which will result in more yield and less water consumption,” he said, adding that the Embassy was also looking at the possibility of sending Pakistani farmers to Argentina so that they could learn from Argentinean expertise and improve their skills.
He stressed that the Argentinean Embassy and PTEA must maintain a working relationship in order to help identify different areas of cooperation which had to be done by keeping in mind the exact position in both countries.
Earlier Chairman PTEA Ajmal Farooq, in his welcome address, declared Argentina as one of the reliable supporter of Pakistan. Both the countries had been enjoying friendly and cordial relationship and understanding on all the major global and regional issues, he added.
He termed Argentina one of the major export destinations in South American region. However, he said, the volume of bilateral trade was less than a quarter of the real potential. While stressing the need to promote trade, commerce and economic co-operation between the two countries, he advocated steps to foster and organize trade and investment delegations, B2B interactions and establishment of display centers which would help to further strengthen the trade ties.
Later, former Chairman PTEA Sheikh Ilyas Mahmood presented PTEA insignia to the Argentinean Ambassador.
