KARACHI: Commercial Counselor of US Embassy in Islamabad, Cheryl Dukelow has said that the United States was keenly interested in doing business with Pakistan and wants to help Pakistani companies do business with companies in US.
Exchanging views at a meeting during her visit to Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), she said that many US companies have been inquiring about business and investment opportunities in Pakistan from the Commercial Section of US Embassy and they were being fully assisted. “My job is to help US companies find the right partner in Pakistan. We are facilitators not only to US companies but also to Pakistani companies as we are always there to reply to your questions. We don’t want you to get discouraged, disinterested or concerned in dealing with US companies”, she added.
Cheryl Dukelow was accompanied by US Economic Officer D. Richard Rasmussen at the meeting while President KCCI Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra, Senior Vice President KCCI Muhammad Ibrahim Kasumbi, Former President KCCI Majyd Aziz and KCCI Managing Committee members were also present on the occasion.
In order to enhance trade and business ties, Cheryl Dukelow advised the Karachi Chamber to directly approach the peer chambers in United States who will surely respond as many US companies, who are the members of these Chambers of Commerce in United States, want to do business and enhance trade ties with Pakistan. In this regard, she assured to assist KCCI in case it faces any difficulty or does not receives reply from the Chambers of Commerce or companies based in United States.
Commenting on improved trade relations between the two countries, she pointed out that United States has witnessed over 20 percent increase in its exports to Pakistan from July 2014 to July 2015 as compared to the same period of preceding year.
Earlier, while welcoming the US Commercial Counselor, President KCCI briefed about the overall strength, membership base, and structure of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry which was actively working to resolve any issue being faced by the business and industrial community of Karachi.
Emphasizing the need to raise bilateral trade between Pakistan and United States, President KCCI said that both countries must look for joint ventures in energy, education, training, infrastructural development, scientific research, and technology transfer.
Commenting on Pak-US trade volume of more than US$5 billion, President KCCI stated that during Fiscal Year 2014-15, Pakistan exports to US were recorded at $3958.99 million whereas its imports from US stood at $1197.09 million, which indicates that trade between the two countries was largely in favor of Pakistan. However, the existing trade volume does not depict the real trade potential between the two countries, he opined, adding that efforts from both sides were needed to further raise the trade volume.
Speaking on the occasion, Senior Vice President KCCI Muhammad Ibrahim Kasumbi appreciated the effective role being played by the officers deployed at the Commercial Section of US Consulate in Karachi who have been maintaining good liaison with KCCI and have been regularly visiting the Chamber to take business community’s input on various economy and trade-related issues.
Highlighting Pakistan’s overall economic performance, he said that economic indicators have starting showing signs of improvement and the completion of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will open up tremendous investment opportunities for Pakistani and foreigner investors who can surely benefit from this important Economic Corridor which will give easy access to the Central Asian Republics (CARs).
Referring to Operation Zarb-e-Azb undertaken by the military forces of Pakistan to eliminate militancy, he said that the security situation has improved to a great extent thanks to the decisive moves taken by the military forces under the ongoing operation against militants which yielded positive results.
