Trade opportunities: Pakistan, Russia urge businesses to cooperate

Pak-Russia Business Council sees huge potential for bilateral trade.

KARACHI: The first meeting of Pakistan Russia Business Council (PRBC) of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) was held at Federation House under the Chairmanship of Farooq Afzal Chairman, Pak-Russia Business Council.

In the opening remarks, President FPCCI emphasised the need of aggressive interaction between the business communities of both countries which will lead to expansion of bilateral trade and economic relations.

President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Haji Fazal Kadir Khan Sherani, speaking on the occasion stated that PRBC should play its due role in this regard and facilitate its members to penetrate the Russian market which has huge potential for Pakistani products. He also suggested holding joint business council meetings between the two national chambers. He further advised that Pakistan Russia Business Council schedule its activities particularly with reference to exchange of trade delegation and organising trade fairs and exhibitions on reciprocal basis.

Russian Consul General Andrey V Demidov in his address assured his cooperation and assistance in the activities of Pak-Russia Business Council. He said that there is great scope of activities in every field between the two countries. He pointed out that the volume of trade between the two countries is not a true reflection of the long friendship of fifty years between the two countries.

Afzal presented an overall view of the existing bilateral trade and economic relations. He stressed on the need for strengthening bilateral relations between Pakistan and Russia and to explore trade opportunities for improving the joint venture investment climate and expanding direct contacts between the business communities of the two countries.

He said that there is a great scope of Pakistani textile, agro-based products, fruit particularly kinnoos and mangoes, food processing and packaging, livestock and dairy farming, leather and leather products, surgical equipments and sports goods etc.

The meeting also discussed collaboration in education, health, information technology, higher studies.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2013.

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