Iranian Ambassador in Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost has expressed optimism and confidence that Pakistan-Iran trade would touch new heights commensurate with their respective potential.
He was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The ambassador said that Iran and Pakistan had some most important achievements from the recent visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to Pakistan which had also started a new era of cordial relations between the two countries. “Iran and Pakistan are brother countries and their friendship should be translated into the mutual economic ties as well,” added the envoy.
“I was shocked to see the statistics of mutual trade volume which do not reflects the friendly relations and potential of the two countries,” he said, adding that a lack of trade-related information was one of the biggest reasons of low trade volume between the brotherly countries.
Honardoost said that Iran was not only a big market but also had 15 neighbouring countries, adding that Iranian businessmen were keen to enhance business with their Pakistani counterparts therefore they should come forward and start joint ventures with their Iranian counterparts. He said that Iran was ready to fulfil the growing energy needs of Pakistan.
To a question, the Iranian envoy said that Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline project could be completed in a short span of time. He said that this project must be completed as energy was necessary for all trade and economic activities.
The envoy said that doors were open and Iranian Embassy in Pakistan would extend all possible facilities to Pakistani businessmen interested in to do business with Iran.
LCCI’s Senior Vice President Almas Hyder said that soon after lifting of sanction, a high-powered trade delegation of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry visited Iran and find there was a vast scope of cooperation in textile, fruit, vegetables and meat sectors of Iran. He said that two delegations would also visit Iran in May to explore trade and investment opportunities. He said that free trade agreements (FTAs) between the two countries should not be traditional; these should be handled through chambers of commerce and industry of the two countries.