Pakistan Ambassador to Australia Naila Chohan has promised to convince Australian quarantine experts to visit Pakistan to facilitate the export of cooked chicken and other food products to their country.
According to a Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) spokesperson here on Saturday, the ambassador was talking to LCCI President Abdul Basit at a lunch she hosted in honour of a delegation accompanying him at her residence in Australia.
Consul General in Sydney Majid Yousafani, Sally Deane from the International Issues Branch, Deputy High Commissioner Dr Khalid Ejaz, senior official of the Australian High Commission Amir Khan, and delegates including Talha Tayyab Butt, Waleed Ayub, Haroon Samad, and Salman Basit were among the attendees of the lunch.
The ambassador appreciated the Lahore chamber for bringing a delegation to Australia that had huge business potential. Pakistani businessmen who want to do business with Australia should improve their standards as Australians were conscious about quality of products, she said, adding that she would re-strengthen High Commission’s liaison with the Lahore chamber to expedite volume of two-way trade and increase the exchange of delegations.
LCCI President Abdul Basit invited the attention of the guests to the untapped potential of halal products in Pakistan. He said Pakistan could get a considerable share out of the US$ 16 billion Australian halal products market.
Abdul Basit stressed the need for enhanced bilateral trade between the two countries. He said that the two sides could take the bilateral trade to one billion US dollars with some concerted efforts at public and private levels.
He said that the dairy and livestock sectors were growing well in Pakistan and that there was still a tremendous potential of growth which could be explored through joint ventures between Pakistani and Australian businessmen.
Similarly animal fattening projects were also picking up in Pakistan and animals were being imported from Australia. Other important sectors were fresh fruit juices and beverages which promise an excellent return on investments.