Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) in collaboration with the Economic & Commercial Representation Embassy of Belgium organized a Belgian Companies’ Catalogues Exhibition to promote bilateral trade between Pakistan and Belgium on Thursday.
The Belgian Business Contact Day consisted of a presentation of the existing trade and the future commercial opportunities between the two countries. Catalogues and trade directories of more than a 100 Belgian companies were exhibited for consultation by the ICCI members.
During the inaugural session of the Expo, Ambassador of Belgium in Islamabad, Peter Claes said that Pakistan was the most hospitable nation in the world as well as being a business freindly country as a number of Belgian companies were operating in Pakistan and contributing positively towards the development of Pakistan’s economy. He said that there were viable prospects for undertaking joint ventures in Pakistan with the help of Belgian technical experience in a number of fields. He said that the growing importance of Belgium in the wake of its central position and location in the European Union calls for more integrated efforts focusing on exchange of trade delegations, institutional contacts between the Chambers of Commerce and participation in international trade fair. The Ambassdor said that that bilateral trade, between Pakistan and Belgium stood around $800 million. He added that he aimed to break the one billion dollar mark soon.
Speaking on the occasion ICCI President Zafar Bakhtawari lauded the efforts of Belgium in securing a GSP plus status for Pakistan and said that that ICCI was an avid advocate for strengthening economic relations with EU, especially Belgium. He said that Belgian expertise in engineering, automobile sector, chemicals industry, electrical and electronic sector was respected around the globe.
Pakistan exports value added textiles, cotton, articles of leather and sport goods to Belgium.
Zafar Bakhtawari emphasized on changing the negative perception regarding Pakistan in international community and urged the Ambassador to invite more Belgian Companies to invest in Pakistan, especially in the energy and textiles sectors. Zafar cited the example of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce & Industry which had miraculously turned around the Turkish economy for good. Zafar said that ICCI was well aware of its responsibility to boost the economy of Pakistan and bring political stability in the country.
