Pakistan-Australia Joint Trade Committee (JTC) on Thursday agreed to increase collaboration amongst relevant organisations to effectively plan for visits of business delegations and participation in exhibitions. The 4th Session of the Pakistan-Australia JTC was held in Islamabad with Federal Commerce Secretary Munir Qurashi in the chair. The committee discussed ways and means to enhance bilateral trade between both countries. The commerce secretary emphasised the need for further expansion of bilateral economic and trade relations and said in order to reduce the imbalance in bilateral trade, a closer and more intensive cooperation was required in areas of trade and investment. The JTC deliberated on possible measures to enhance existing trade between the two countries in sectors including textile, agriculture, light engineering and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The Australian side agreed for exchanging cooperation in trade and investment and assisting Pakistan in capacity building and skill enhancement through curriculum development, training of trainers and accreditation of institutions. The meeting also discussed progress made so far in exporting mangoes from Pakistan to Australia. The audit team of the department of agriculture, fisheries and forestry, Australia, would visit Pakistan in the first week of July 2013. This would result in export of mangoes from Pakistan to Australia, it was decided. The Australian side also agreed to extend similar support for other horticulture products, particularly citrus.
