Palestinian Ambassador Walid Abu Ali said that a trade expo of Palestine was being planned in Islamabad preferably in June this year to showcase the potential of many Palestinian products, said a press release issued on Friday.
The products including marble and stones, food items, agro products, industrial goods, handicrafts, technology and communications, leather goods, construction, tourism and many others for Pakistani consumers would be displayed in the expo. He said the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) would sponsor the trade expo and the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) should also cooperate with Palestinian embassy to make this expo successful.
The ambassador said that though it was difficult for Pakistani businessmen to do direct trade with Palestine due to Israeli factor, however, they could export to Palestine through Jordon, Egypt and Turkey which were facilitating it in trading activities.
He further said that more opportunities should be created for the businessmen of Palestine and Pakistan to identify all untapped areas of mutual cooperation. He thanked the Pakistani government and people for always supporting the cause of Palestine and added that Pakistan was a source of main support for Palestine.
Speaking at the occasion, ICCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh said that Pakistan and Palestine had good potential to complement each other in many areas and both the countries should focus on developing bilateral trade to create better economic opportunities for their people. He said both the countries had agreed to form a joint ministerial commission to improve two-way trade and economic relations and stressed that all possible efforts should be made to materialise this plan.
Sheikh said Pakistan wanted peace in Palestine so that trade and economic activities could flourish and people of Palestine could enjoy a better living standard. He assured the ICCI would extend all possible cooperation to make this venture successful.