Pak-Qatar ties: Businessmen asked to look for joint ventures

FPCCI expects Doha to help strike free trade accord with GCC.

KARACHI: Qatar’s willingness to invest in energy and infrastructure projects is a welcome development and the country is also expected to support early conclusion of a free trade agreement between Pakistan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

This was stated by Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Vice President Fehmida Jamali while talking to a delegation.

She highlighted the significance of trade and economic diplomacy and the positive role businessmen and traders could play in bringing people and countries together.

“In the modern world, trade and economic diplomacy complements the traditional diplomacy done by embassies and if rightly executed can certainly pave the way for expansion of bilateral relations and achievement of foreign policy goals of a nation,” she remarked.

She called on the businessmen that it was high time to initiate joint ventures with their Qatari counterparts as a slew of investment and business opportunities were available in various sectors including infrastructure, tourism, agriculture and healthcare.

Trade between the two countries dropped from $425 million in 2012 to $243 million in 2013. In 2011, the volume of exports to Qatar was $115 million, which fell to $79 million in 2012 and remained stagnant in 2013.

The FPCCI vice president voiced hope that the new directors of Pakistan-Qatar Business Council would play a constructive role in bridging the information and interaction gap between the two countries.

“The FPCCI is ready to play an effective role in promoting trade and economic cooperation.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, March  25^th,  2015.

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