Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) will host a luncheon reception in the honour of Anand Sharma, Indian minister of commerce, industry and textiles, during his visit toKarachi next month.
Speaking at the interactive session held with Indian delegation headed by Goutam Ghosh, director and head of South Asia, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and Manish Mohan, director, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) Mian Abrar President KCCI said, “We at KCCI, firmly believe that both countries will have to demonstrate greater political will to foster relations and accord priority to trade for cementing bilateral ties. It is the need of the hour that both governments, besides opening new land routes, should positively consider to connect Mumbai with Karachi through land, air and sea links as our businessmen are serious about maintaining two-way trade with India owing to lower cost and minimum logistics charges.” He said it is the time to converge interest to regional trade because Pakistani exporters are keen to diversify exports from the saturated Western markets.
President KCCI asserted upon the need to accelerate the pace of confidence building measures. He was of the view that it is high time we bring policy shift while giving priority to trade rather than political conflicts. He said during last 64 years both sides have had mutual animosity; however, it’s a healthy sign that the mindset and policy is changing on fast track and in a positive sense. He stressed upon the dire need of building stakes at public level and urged to enhance public-to-public and business-to-business contacts. He said business and industrial community of Pakistan must not fear that India has an edge on balance of trade because Pakistanis maintain a similar situation in Pak-China trade where China has edge over trade balance. He articulated that Karachi chamber had already provided its proposal to ministry of commerce with regards to the three agreements that include customs cooperation agreement, mutual recognition/ certification agreement and redressal of grievances agreement which will are likely to be signed during the visit of Indian minister in the next month. He voiced for visa liberalisation for the business community and proposed that businesspersons should be issued multiple visas without restriction of destination and with exemption of police reporting. He concluded that the luncheon meeting with Indian commerce, industry and textile minister and the 150 persons in the business delegation will be organised according to the programme chalked out and confirmed by the trade development authority of Pakistan.
Leaders of Indian delegation Goutam Ghosh, director and head of South Asia, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Manish Mohan, director, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) apprised the President KCCI about details of upcoming visit of Anand Sharma, minister of commerce, industry and textiles, government of India and briefed that various agreements will be signed on that juncture between the two government. And likewise, top Indian businesspersons will meet their Pakistani counterparts to explore existing business prospects.
It is a good approach but the process should be put on fast track …. discussion must be result oriented and visa restriction should be easy for business man and visitors also from the both sides.
I hope for a good relationship in future.
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