Pakistan high commissioner to Bangladesh Syed Ahmed Maruf on Thursday stressed promoting business and reducing trade gap between Bangladesh and Pakistan for the benefit of the two countries.
鈥楾here was no alternative to promote trade and economic ties as part of bilateral relations between the two friendly countries,鈥� he said while speaking at a view exchange meeting held between the visiting Pakistani trade delegation and leading businessmen of Chattogram.
He said, 鈥榃e have no alternatives to improve business-to-business ties to boost the existing relation...Although there is a bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Pakistan, there is a huge trade deficit tilting towards Pakistan which needs to be addressed,鈥� the envoy said.
The meeting was held at the Conference Hall of World Trade Center with Administrator of Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) of Chattogram Muhammad Anwar Pasha in the chair.
The high commissioner said Bangladeshi businessmen will have to work actively on how to increase export to Pakistan rather than increasing import from Pakistan.聽聽
There has been a significant change in trade relations between
Bangladesh and Pakistan in the last few months, he said referring to the recent introduction of direct shipping links and Bangladesh鈥檚 initiative to import 50,000 metric tonnes of rice.
The envoy put emphasis on direct flight operations between Dhaka and Islamabad to improve further the bilateral trade ties. He later, invited Bangladeshi businessmen to visit Pakistan to explore new business opportunities.
Welcoming the Pakistan鈥檚 intention to promote trade and economic ties, CCCI Administrator Muhammad Anwar Pasha said no notable products from Bangladesh have exported to Pakistan although we have religious, historical and traditional similarities.
鈥榃hereas Pakistan is the 19th importing country of Bangladesh and about 700 million dollars worth of products are imported from Pakistan every year鈥� CCCI chief said.
