Pakistani High Commissioner (HC) Maj Gen Qasim Qureshi, on Friday, emphasised on exploring ways and means to further enhance business connectivity and volume of bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
During his visit to Galle district in southern Sri Lanka, Qureshi attended a meeting with officials of the Galle District Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The meeting reviewed the prevailing business environment between the two friendly countries.
Qureshi noted that the two countries had put in place an overarching economic framework to facilitate businessmen of both countries to set-up and strengthen commercial and investment ventures.
The hallmark of this framework is the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which has been operational since 2005, he added. He further stated that Pakistan and Sri Lanka also have a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) and an MoU on Customs co-operation.
Qureshi highlighted that Pakistan offered extremely attractive opportunities to the Sri Lankan traders and consumers to benefit from abundant raw materials, available at competitive prices and low freight costs.
He explained that Pakistan produces various varieties of rice, vegetables and fruits, which if imported from Pakistan to Sri Lanka, can considerably reduce the inflation on food items, at the same time providing a wide choice of consumables.
Later in the day, the High Commissioner also met Southern Province Governor Kumari Balasuriya, Southern Naval Commander Rear Admiral Piyal Harischandra De Dilva and Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) Galle District chief Mustafa Mohammad Awn.
