Australia seeks cooperation in services

Joint business forum in Lahore to start working soon.

FAISALABAD: Australian High Commissioner Peter Heyward, while highlighting the service-orientated nature of the Australian economy, has suggested that trade relations between Pakistan and Australia can strengthen in this field.

During a visit to the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), Heyward said both the countries had been collaborating in several sectors that included education, energy, dairy and agriculture and further improvement in these fields was possible.

In this regard, he promised to extend every possible facility to expand trade ties by encouraging Pakistani exporters and importers to regularly visit Australia.

Heyward added that Pak-Australia Business Forum had already been established in Karachi while its Lahore office would become operational soon and this office would also cater to the needs of the business community of Faisalabad.

He said a large number of Australian companies were already working in Pakistan. “With the improvement of security conditions, more will come to invest and collaborate in mining, energy and other sectors.”

Responding to a question, the high commissioner said the GSP Plus status was a big opportunity for Pakistan and the exporters should fully capitalise on this by ensuring a larger presence in Australian markets.

FCCI President Engineer Suhail Bin Rashid said Pakistan and Australia had always enjoyed extremely cordial and friendly relations. “They also share common perception about most of the international political and economic issues,” he said.

He appreciated the Australian government’s development cooperation, which increased from $16 million in 2006-07 to $96 million in 2012-13. “Bilateral relations are progressing day by day and Australia and Pakistan will be good partners in the days to come.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2014.

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