LAHORE: Ambassador of Bosnia & Herzegovina Sakib Foric has said that Pakistani and Bosnian businessmen should establish strong links to extract full benefits from trade and investment opportunities.
He was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The LCCI President Almas Hyder presented the address of welcome while Senior Vice President Khawaja Shahzad Nasir and Vice President Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigal and Honorary Consuler of Bosnia Danish Iqbal also spoke on the occasion. Former Senior Vice President Amjad Ali Jawa and Mian Rehman Aziz Chan were also present on the occasion.
The Ambassador also invited Pakistani businessmen to attend business and investment conference in Bosnia being held from April 17th to 19th saying that it would provide them an ample opportunity to have good trade partners. He said that both countries can promote cooperation in the fields of wood, furniture, leather, pharmaceutical, fruits & vegetables, textile, sports and tourism etc. He said that Bosnia can help Pakistan organize winter sports.
He said that Bosnia is a small but developed country and is a road to European Union. Pakistan is an amazing country and immediately acknowledged Bosnia but cordial and brother relations should also be seen in mutual trade ties.
He said that Bosnian government is offering good incentives to the businessmen. There is a tax exemption for five years for new company while government also helps establishment of new business project. He said that company established in Bosnia can do business with European Union. He invited Pakistani businessmen to join hands with their Bosnian counterparts and explore trade and investment opportunities in Bosnia where they can enjoy number of benefits.
The Ambassador, who spent well over an hour at Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, invited the Pakistani businessmen to visit the country for having first hand knowledge about the available opportunities and initiating joint ventures with their Bosnian counterparts.
The LCCI President Almas Hyder said that not in Asia but all over the world, economic scenario is being changed therefore we have to be connected with each other. Referring to present volume of two way trade which is even less than half a million dollar, the LCCI President said that it does not represent these relations at all. One of the reasons for having insignificant trade volume is little knowledge about the market needs of both the countries.
He said that people-to-people and business-to-business contacts are a must to expand trade between the two countries. He said that promotion of tourism is most important part of the policies of present regime.
LCCI Senior Vice President Khawaja Shahzad Nasir and Vice President Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigal said that both countries should identify new products for trade. They said that tourism sector of Pakistan has huge potential and both countries can work together in this sector as well.
