LAHORE: Pakistan is an emerging market and British businessmen are ready to coordinate with their Pakistani counterparts to avail business opportunities in the country.
These views were expressed by UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy Rehman Chishti while talking to LCCI Acting President Zeshan Khalil and Executive Committee here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry along with UK Diplomats. British Deputy High Commissioner Elin Burns, Deputy Directors, Department of International Trade Matt Lister, Trade and Investment Manager Waqar Ullah, Head of Communication, British High Commission Sidra Riaz, Adeeb Iqbal Sheikh and Khaliq Arshad Rehman Chishti said that all aspects of trade with Pakistan are focused. He said that Pakistan and United Kingdom enjoy strong relations and share history and deep cultural linkages.
He said that this visit will further enhance and strengthen Pakistan-UK relations and up-scale existing cooperation in various fields, particularly in the areas of common interest. He said that Pakistan is a good emerging market and British businessmen are ready to grow further trade and economic ties with the Pakistani counterparts to avail the available opportunities.
He said that security in Pakistan has considerably improved. It is fifth largest populated country and a big consumer market that has grabbed the attention of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and has a bright future. He said that engineering, e-commerce and vocational training are the lucrative sectors for cooperation.
“We want to see Pakistan a developed country and want to establish trade relations at all level”, the LCCI acting President Zeshan Khalil said that exchange of delegations and participation in each other’s exhibitions are a useful tool to know more about each other. Such interactions with the counterparts and other stakeholders allow embarking upon new areas of cooperation.
He said that UK is known for having strong socio-political atmosphere where the people and the government work hand in hand for the betterment of the country. He said that Pakistan and United Kingdom enjoy good diplomatic and trade relations. Both countries are playing their due roles quite well in strengthening their diplomatic ties that also reflect in our overall trade.
Zeshan Khalil said that United Kingdom is one of the top five exporting markets in the world for Pakistan. United Kingdom is ranked at 3rd and 16th places among the top exporting and importing countries respectively for Pakistan. It is encouraging to see that balance of trade is in favour of Pakistan and both countries are maintaining overall trade above dollar 2 billion from the last three years. He hoped that Trade Envoy of UK’s Prime Minister will play instrumental role in further improving the trade and investment relations between Pakistan and UK.
Mian Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Chaudhry, Mozzam Rasheed, Mian Abdul Razzaq and Waqar Ahmed Mian also spoke on the occasion.
