RAWALPINDI: The Pakistani business community should take full advantage of US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programme for promoting exports to the United States.
This was stated in a meeting of US embassy delegation comprising Deputy Economic Counselor and Acting commercial Counselor Edwin Saeger and Second Secretary for Trade and Investment, Benjamin Embury while visiting Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) here Tuesday. During his meeting with Raja Amer Iqbal, President RCCI, Second Secretary Benjamin Embury said the GSP programme was available to Pakistan,s private sector till 2017 and there is a need to create more awareness about it so that Pakistani business community could fully explore it for promoting exports to the US.
The delegation informed that Pakistan, America Business Opportunities Conference will be organised in April 2017 and invited RCCI to be a part of it.
He said US is committed to improve trade and economic ties with Pakistan as both countries have good potential to establish business partnerships. “We want to improve our bilateral trade relations and look forward for partners with a prime objective of economic engagement,” he added.
The delegation appreciated RCCI’s role in promoting business activities and trade relations by holding exhibitions in and out of the country.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Raja Amer Iqbal, President, RCCI said that bilateral trade between Pakistan and the US is far less than real potential of both countries. He said both countries should focus on frequent exchange of trade delegations to improve two-way trade. Business to business meetings are very important to understand each other requirements.
US should promote trade with Pakistan which is the best way to strengthen Pakistan’s economy, he further added.
RCCI President said Pakistan’s economic outlook offered promising future and urged that more US investors should explore Pakistan for joint ventures and investment in energy, Pharmaceutical, infrastructure development and other sectoRs
The delegation was briefed on RCCI,s current and future programs. Senior vice President Rashid Waen, Vice President Asim Malik, Group leader Sohail Altaf, Chief of Party USAID-PREIA, Donal Cotter, members, of the executive committee, and Secretary General Irfan Manan were also present on the occasion.
