PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India Co-Chairman Punjab and Member Managing Committee Rupinder Singh Sachdva visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry along with a delegation to discuss the possibilities of cooperation for organizing a 4-day Indian Expo at Islamabad in the second week of March 2016.
The co-chairman said that holding Indian Expos at Lahore was a regular feature, however, it was for the first time that an Indian Expo would be held in Islamabad and expressed the desire that ICCI should fully cooperate to make this event successful.
He said that the Indian government had allowed PHD Chamber to organize Expo in the federal capital of Pakistan and added that about 100 stalls of various Indian products including machinery and equipment, engineering goods, food products and others would be displayed in the said Expo. He said facilitating the frequent exchange of trade delegations and holding single country exhibitions was the best way to promote bilateral trade and economic relations between Pakistan and India. He assured to provide all possible support to Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry for organizing delegations and trade fairs in India.
Speaking on the occasion, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Atif Ikram Sheikh said that both governments had once again started the process of normalisation of relations which was a welcome sign for the business communities as they needed tension-free environment to boost two-way trade. He said that Pakistan and India being the largest economies of South Asia have huge potential to promote trade and sustained normal bilateral relations were the key to fully exploiting available trade potential for benefit of both countries.
He said that a lot of trade was taking place between Pakistan and India via Dubai and peaceful relations would help in promoting direct trade between the two countries. He highlighted that measures like improving trade infrastructure, enhancing transport connectivity, customs facilitation , increasing people to people contacts by easing bilateral visa regimes, improving telecommunication links, sharing information and organizing specialized trade fairs were the measures that would help in improving bilateral trade and economic relations between our two neighborly countries.
He assured that ICCI would extend all possible cooperation to PHD Chamber of Commerce in organizing Indian Expo at Islamabad. He said many Indian products including industrial machinery, raw material for many finished products, steel furnaces and others could find good market in Pakistan and both governments should facilitate entrepreneurs in promoting bilateral trade through formal channels.
A big challenge it is indeed! I must say running an expo in Pakistan will measure whether normal level public in Pakistan excepts India as a good friend or a rival. However, I like the approach and hopefully will see good result of this expo.
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