Croatia seeks better trade relationship

Appoints honorary consul general in Karachi to enhance trade, streamline visa issuances

KARACHI:

The Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia, Dr Drago Stambuk, acknowledged that although Croatia and Pakistan maintain friendly relations, the trade exchange between them is ‘not strong enough to be proud of.’ The Croatian Embassy is actively working to enhance this trade relationship, stated Stambuk during a meeting at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).

Stambuk highlighted his duty to bring together business representatives from both sides. He expressed plans to organise political and economic consultations between the two countries to improve bilateral trade. He also highlighted the appointment of Mirza Imran Baig as the Honorary Consul General of Croatia in Karachi, considering it an extension of the Croatian Embassy’s outreach.

Identifying visa delays as a significant impediment to trade, the ambassador assured that efforts were underway to address this issue.

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Stambuk underscored Croatia’s favourable geopolitical position within the Eurozone, featuring extensive ports and railway networks. Plans are in progress to position Croatia as the hub for Central and South-Eastern Europe. However, he noted demographic challenges in Croatia, expressing the need for skilled and young individuals. Recognising Pakistan’s valuable human resources, he encouraged more Pakistanis to explore opportunities in Croatia, particularly in the tourism industry.

KCCI President Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh proposed that the Croatian Honorary Consul General in Karachi should be authorised to issue visas for Pakistani businesses based on KCCI’s recommendations.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2024.

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