Post-Brexit: Pak-UK ties can advance to new level: envoy

Britain encouraging its companies to explore Pakistan's market

KARACHI: The relationship between Pakistan and the UK can be taken to the next stage by taking advantage of the forthcoming Brexit, said British Deputy High Commissioner Mike Nithavrianakis.

During a visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Friday, the envoy said, "Both countries have been enjoying warm and conducive partnership and we are ambitious to take this partnership to the new level as we believe that UK's departure from the European Union, which is going to happen on January 31, gives us the opportunity to do that."

He stated that Pakistan was an emerging frontier market that deserved greater attention, hence, the Department for International Trade (DIT) was increasing its resources for Pakistan.

The British envoy said 5,000 British companies were operating in the UAE, very few of which were doing business in Pakistan. "If they are already in the region and so close to Pakistan, then they should be exploring Pakistan's market more seriously," he said.

"We are encouraging these British companies to explore Pakistani market."

Commenting on British-Pakistan relations, former KCCI president Siraj Kassam Teli said that it was heartening to see that over 60 British companies had invested in Pakistan and were successfully running their businesses.

Referring to bilateral trade and investment, the British envoy said, "Export business from Pakistan is obviously of more interest to Pakistani and British governments but we would be keen to see what we can do to support the expansion of two-way trade and investment."

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2020.

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