The successful launch of Life Style Pakistan in Delhi marks another important chapter in what has become trade normalization on steroids, a rapid thawing of one of South Asia’s most enduring rivalries. And as significant as it was for Anand Sharma’s landmark announcements, rather pronouncements, it was even more important for what must already be afoot behind the scenes. Trade bodies, business executives and corporate bigwigs have not travelled all the way just for photo ops. They are eager to fine tune all proceedings that will stem with the phasing out of our negative list as the year rolls out. In negotiations taking place right now, lasting alliances will be built and new opportunities identified, and exploited; good networking all in all.
Those weary of the rapidity of the change must also leverage the present engagement to iron out rigidities where they exist and posture to better harness gains of trade when they begin materializing. There was a justified touch of irony in Sharma’s words when he talked of many past opportunities lost to bitterness, of the duty to bring change for the sake of our children. There seems a clear understanding on both sides – there is no going back; this must succeed.
Now that irreversible financial linkages are as good as forged, the new strategy will be tested on the political front, and rightly so. Proponents of the new engagement staked their case on one simple argument – when bound together in long term, high value projects, there will be a clear desire to keep otherwise bothersome issues from disrupting the peace, which in turn would demand serious attention towards lasting solutions. And that is the real success of the endeavor our commerce ministry has been pursuing for the good part of the last two years. There is progress beyond India, and meaningful progress at that. We stand a better chance of improving trade and diplomatic relations with many countries in our neighbourhood. However, we will need to work on improving just about everything about our exports at the moment.