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Pak-Austria relations: Austria keen to develop economic, commercial ties

Suggests more cultural events to boost image of Pakistan.

Our Correspondent March 04, 2015

Pakistan’s exports to Austria amounted to $42.94 million while imports from Austria aggregated to $92.93 million STOCK IMAGE

KARACHI: Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Brigitta Blaha has said that Austria is keen to develop bilateral economic, trade and commercial relationship as there is potential to enhance the existing trade volume between the two countries.

She said this during her visit to Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). The Austrian ambassador, while commenting on the re-opening of Austrian Consulate in Karachi, stated that the Honorary Consulate General of Republic of Austria was recently reopened in Karachi with a cultural event as they believe that such events help in improving people-to-people contact. Austrian embassy will hold more such cultural events in the future in order to improve the image of Pakistan, she added.

Commercial Counselor of Austrian Trade Commission Richard Bandera said efforts were being made by Austrian Trade Commission to promote the positive image of the country. “It is one of our first duties to bring people here as foreigners are afraid of visiting Pakistan due to various incidents being reported in the media,” he added.

Earlier, while welcoming the Austrian ambassador, KCCI President Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra stressed the need to look for means to enhance trade ties between the two countries as the existing low trade volume does not depict the real potential between the two countries. During fiscal year 2014, Pakistan’s exports to Austria amounted to $42.94 million while imports from Austria aggregated to $92.93 million, he informed.

In order to enhance trade, KCCI president advocated the need to organise visit of trade delegation from Austria to Pakistan, which was an emerging market that holds abundant natural resources along with cheaper labor force and can surely offer lucrative business opportunities to Austrian business community.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2015.

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