The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the largest private sector network, will enhance bilateral trade ties especially the promotion and strengthening of SME sector on modern lines between Pakistan and India to meet international export standards.
The leader of Indian delegation Rajesh Menon, (Head of South and Central Asia), Confederation of Indian Industry, prior to his return to India after 3-day visit to Pakistan told APP here Saturday that he had result-oriented and meaningful meetings with President Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Usman Zakaria, Chief Executive, Trade Development Authority Pakistan, S M Munir, Chairman United Business Group, VP SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iftikhar Ali Malik at his residence along with corporate sector leaders.
He said there was a need to address concerns relating to market access, tariff and non-tariff barriers. The Pak-Indo trade leaders stressed the need for “Trust Building Measures” between private sectors of the two countries to boost bilateral trade, he added.
Rajesh said that CII plans to host an international conference on “Global SME” soon and he extended invitation to private sector of Pakistan for participation and delivering research-based lectures.
He said the main object of inviting Pak delegation was to share their views with international experts to improve and better SME sector, a back bone of the economy worldwide.
He said the CII would extend support and training facilities to develop human resources in industrial sector on modern lines to meet the international standards of exports and modern trends in global marketing.
He said SM Munir told him that “Pakistan wants a level-playing field for strengthening trade ties with India”. He said FPCCI Chief Usman Zakaria had assured full co-operation and host Iftikhar Ali Malik gave undertaking for active collaboration and participation in global moot on SME.
The deputy leader of the delegation Pranav Kumar, Head of International Trade and Policy of CCI, said the CII would work out viable strategies and mechanism to promote bilateral trade between the two neighbours exclusively through SME sector.
Iftikhar Ali Malik said, “Leaders from both sides were pushing the need to liberalise the visa regime between Pakistan and India to promote business linkage.” The trade leaders from either sides stressed the need for confidence building measures between private sectors of the two countries to boost bilateral trade and capacity building.
