SIALKOT: The Ambassador of Portugal in Pakistan Joao Sabido Costa has said that the Portugal was keen to develop the strong mutual trade ties with Pakistan, saying that there were bright opportunities for both Portugal and Pakistan to develop and strengthen their mutual trade ties.
He stated this while talking to the Sialkot based leading industrialists and exporters during his visit to several leading industrial units in Sialkot here.
Portuguese Ambassador said that Portugal was much keen to boost the mutual trade ties with Pakistan, pledging to make efforts to remove all the hurdles from the way of promoting the mutual trade between Pakistan and Portugal.
He added that Pakistan business community should ensure maximum exports to Portugal and other European Union Countries through Portugal by taking the full advantages of GSP Plus status to Pakistan.
He said that the Pakistani businessmen would be most welcomed to Portugal. Mr. Joao Sabido Costa invited the Sialkot exporters to divert their business activities to Portugal.
Portuguese Ambassador assured Sialkot exporters about their easy access to international trade markets of Portugal. He also asked the Sialkot exporters to participate the international trade fairs and exhibitions to be held in Portugal soon.
Mr. Joao Sabido Costa also stressed upon the need of making some effective joint efforts to boost mutual trade between Pakistan and Portugal.
He vowed to make all out sincere efforts to boost mutual trade ties between Pakistan and Portugal, saying that the time was ripe to further strengthen these mutual trade ties. He said that both of the countries have been enjoying the cordial trade relations.
Ambassador of Portugal in Pakistan Mr. Joao Sabido Costa today witnessed the international standard craftsmanship of Sialkot based artisans during her visit to several leading industrial units in Sialkot city here today, amid tight security. He showed keen interest in the production process of sports goods and surgical instruments there.
He narrated that Portugal was keen to boost the mutual trade ties with Pakistan, pledging to make efforts to remove all the hurdles from the way of promoting the mutual trade between Pakistan and Portugal.
He also showed keen interest in the direct import of Sialkot made sports goods direct from Sialkot-Pakistan instead of importing these sports goods from the other European countries on comparatively very high prices.
On this occasion, a leading soccer ball exporter Khawaja Masud Akhtar (the manufacturers and producers of Brazuca Football played in 2014 FIFA Football World Cup Brazil) told the Portuguese Ambassador that the Sialkot exporters were the much aware of the international quality standards and they also have the great potential to explore and capture the international trade markets of Portugal and EU countries as well by exporting their diversified traditional and non-traditional export products.
Khawaja Masud Akhtar revealed that Sialkot exporters have a great potential to explore and capture the international trade markets of France by exporting their world class traditional and non-traditional export products. For improving bilateral trade, he suggested that exchange of trade delegations and one-to-one meetings of businessmen of both sides may be arranged.
Meanwhile, some other exporters told the visiting Ambassador of Portugal that there was no doubt to say that Sialkot-made sports goods, surgical instruments, leather products, gloves of all sorts, textiles items, sports wear, martial arts uniforms and accessories, musical instruments, kitchen ware, hollow ware, knives, cutlery items and military uniform badges etc. could find a good market in Portugal.
Later, the Ambassador of Portugal in Pakistan Joao Sabido Costa also participated in the colourful celebrations held at Sialkot to rejoice the Portugal’s Euro Cup Winning held here in Sialkot here today, amid tight security.