ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Nepal have good potential to promote bilateral trade and Pakistan Embassy in Nepal would explore the possibility of setting up a display centre in its premises to promote country’s trade and exports with Nepal,
Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate to Nepal Mazhar Javed stated this while exchanging views with business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI).
He said there was a need of developing better coordination between Pakistani foreign missions and domestic chambers of commerce and industry to explore new avenues of promoting Pakistan’s trade with other countries. He said many Pakistani products including pharmaceuticals, textiles, ready-made garments and leather products could find a good market in Nepal and businessmen should accelerate efforts to fully tap Nepalese market for promoting trade.
He assured that his embassy would try to share all such information with local chambers of commerce as could help them in promoting trade with Nepal. He said ICCI should take a trade delegation to Nepal and his embassy would fully assist in making its visit effective and meaningful.
Speaking on the occasion, ICCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh said that the current volume of trade between Pakistan and Nepal was not encouraging and Pakistan Embassy in Nepal should identify potential markets for Pakistani products that would help in improving trade with Nepal.
He said due to trading restrictions and tariff measures, many Pakistani products were reaching Nepal via other countries and stressed that both governments should take measures for facilitating direct trade that would result in lesser freight with shorter lead time and would be more beneficial for both nations. He said Nepal has huge hydropower potential which could be potential area of cooperation between both countries.
Senior Vice President Sheikh Pervez Ahmed and Vice President Sheikh Abdul Waheed suggested that frequent exchange of trade delegations and establishment of display centres in both countries would further strengthen trade ties. They said Pakistan was one of the highest per capita tea consuming countries while Nepal was one of the finest tea and coffee producers and added that more cooperation in this area could improve bilateral trade between the two countries.
