KARACHI: Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Muhammad Nafees Zakaria has informed that a state-of-the-art Display Center will be established at Pakistan’s High Commission in Malaysia which will be created with the support and cooperation of the business and industrial community.
“A Single Country Exhibition will also be organized in Malaysia in the month of April next year and we will ensure that this exhibition do not clashes with the dates of Karachi Chamber’s My Karachi Exhibition which is also set to be staged in April”, he informed while exchanging views during his visit to Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
The Envoy requested Karachi Chamber to participate in the Single Country Exhibition in Malaysia and help in identifying numerous sectors which should be focused in this event.
President KCCI Muffasar Atta Malik, Senior Vice President Abdul Basit Abdul Razzak, Vice President Rehan Hanif, Former President Majyd Aziz and KCCI Managing Committee members were also present at the meeting.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner assured that during his three years long tenure, he would make all-out efforts to rebuild the image of Pakistan and improve its perception by highlighting the true colors and actual potential of this country.
“I am fully committed but I cannot achieve the desired goals without the support and cooperation of business community. I will strive really hard to look for the right Malaysian businessmen and industrialists, particularly from the Pakistani diaspora who are keen to enhance trade with Pakistan”, Nafees Zakaria said, “I will not only be focusing on enhancing trade but will equally be concentrating on furthering the political relations which are essential to facilitate trade”, he added.
He was of the opinion that Pakistan’s exports have been shrinking as the industrialization has squeezed and the local production was narrowing, leaving no surplus for exports whereas the value addition is also being ignored by Pakistani manufacturers and raw material was largely being exported which was the basic reason behind the descending exports.
He advised the business and industrial community of Karachi to exports finest quality goods as these products represent Pakistan so they have to be completely flawless. Pakistani exporters usually remain engaged in exporting traditional items including textiles, rice, surgical and sports goods etc. whereas many other important products including fisheries, dairy products and basmati rice etc. have not been tapped which have to be introduced in different markets around the world including Malaysia.
In this regard, Nafees Zakaria advised KCCI to carry out a detailed study which must focus on identifying those Pakistani products and services which can be exported to Malaysian market. “Although it was a small market of 30 million population but other important markets within the proximity of Malaysia including Vietnam, Thailand and Brunei must also be taken into consideration while formulating this study which can be tapped by Pakistani exporters whereas the Malaysian business community could also explore opportunities available not only in Pakistan but also in its neighboring countries”, he added.
Referring to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, he advised KCCI to fully involve in this project by constantly remaining in touch with the Planning Division as it has been observed that the business community is not much acquainted with the significance and developments of this project. The business community of Karachi must identify the areas of investment in CPEC project and accordingly devise strategies to fully benefit from this project.
Earlier, President KCCI Muffasar Atta Malik, in his remarks, pointed out that Pakistan exported goods worth $138.53 million to Malaysia whereas its imports stood at $924.52 million, indicating the overall trade volume heavily in favor of Malaysia. “Pakistan’s High Commission must take serious steps to make trade volume between the two countries balanced and any initiative taken, in this regard by the High Commission will be fully supported by Karachi Chamber”, he added.
To improve Pakistan’s trade and investment ties with Malaysia, the paramount interest of Pakistan’s High Commission should be to rebuild the image of Pakistan, particularly Karachi where the security situation has substantially improved.
Referring to High Commissioner’s suggestions about CPEC, President KCCI said that the government has been facilitating the Chinese business community only whereas not much attention and acquaintance about this project was being provided to the business and industrial community of Karachi. “CPEC will not be successful if the government continues to pay attention to Chinese businessmen and investors only whereas the local business community is largely ignored”, he added.
He was of the view that the business community of Karachi, which deserves to be saluted, has continued to carry out their activities despite so many odds including widespread corruption, poor law and order, rigid taxation policies and massive discretionary powers. “We, the business community of Karachi, require a level playing field and one-window operations in order to enhance exports”, President KCCI stressed.
On the occasion, Muffasar Malik sought High Commissioner’s assistance in effectively promoting Karachi Chamber’s 15th My Karachi – Oasis of Harmony Exhibition amongst Malaysian business community. The three-day long exhibition scheduled to be organized on 20th, 21st & 22nd April 2018 will provide a perfect opportunity to Malaysian business community to showcase their products and services in front of more than 1 million visitors, he added.
