LAHORE: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA) for the establishment of Pakistan-Iran Chamber of Commerce.
FPCCI President Abdur Rauf Alam, in a statement, said that the two countries must benefit from each other strengths and increase economic cooperation, which was lower than their actual potential.
He said that economies of both the countries were taking off; therefore it was high time the business community explored these opportunities. Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan Chairman Ch Shafique stated that Pakistan’s rice export was stagnant for the last many years.
“Although Iran could be a huge market for Pakistani rice, but country’s rice sector is not yet ready to take advantage of this opportunity, because most of the Pakistani rice exporters are waiting GMP (good manufacturing practices) certification from Iran,” he lamented.
He requested the Ministry of Commerce to take up the issue with the Iranian health ministry to get the issue of GMP Certification resolved on a priority basis, as without this certification rice export to Iran was not possible.
He said that the landmark visit of the Iranian president provided Pakistan with a historic opportunity to increase mutual trade and investment.
