SL – Pakistan urged to strengthen trade and investment

The signing of the MoU between the Pakistan Sri Lanka Business Council of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Sri Lanka Pakistan Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in Karachi

The Sri Lanka Pakistan Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce with the support of the Pakistan High Commission in Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce took a 15 member Sri Lankan delegation, comprising of top textile firms, leading textile chain stores, wholesale dealers and importers of fabric in Sri Lanka to attend the first ever textile sector specific exhibition TeXpo Pakistan 2016.  The representatives from firms such as, Cliftex Industries, Fashion Bug, Hafyar Enterprises, Hameedia Designers & Tailors, Merchant Lanka and Hydra Enterprises were among the delegates.

The TeXpo 2016 organised by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce Pakistan was held at the Expo Center, Karachi during the month of April.

TEXPO 2016 focused on the value-added textile products like high-end garments, hosiery, ready-made garments, knitwear, etc.  As part of the TeXpo 2016 exhibition, a fashion show was also organised to display the strengths of Pakistani fashion and garments industry.

Cotton, Home Textile, Fashion Garments, Leather Items, Tents & Canvas Goods as well as machinery were amongst the products displayed at TEXPO 2016. The exhibition attracted delegates from over 62 counties and B2B meetings were arranged to attract foreign delegates to carry out business dealings during the exhibition.

The Minister for Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, Rishad Bathiudeen, who led the Sri Lankan delegation was the Guest of Honour at the Pakistan textile specific exhibition and he also addressed the gathering at the Inaugural Reception arranged by the Trade Development Authority at the Governors House in Karachi. This is first time that a Minister of another country has been officially invited as guest of honour to take part in TeXpo, which underscores the special relationship between the two countries and people.

The Pakistan Federal Minister of Commerce, Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan emphasised the success story of the single country exhibition held in Sri Lanka and requested the Sri Lankan minister to reciprocate by holding a similar trade exhibition in Pakistan.  Both officials discussed in length the need to make awareness of the many items available in the Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, which are untapped by the businessmen.  President of the Sri Lanka Pakistan Business Council Rohitha Thilakaratne  mentioned the formation of the Stakeholders Advisory Sub-committee that gives its expertise towards the  tariff/non-tariff barriers and other implications that needs attention as a problem solving mechanism to harness the benefits of the FTA.

The following day a luncheon meeting was hosted by the Pakistan Business Forum at Pearl Continental.   The Consul General of Sri Lanka in Pakistan, H. M. B. Herath and his team  were of immense assistance to the delegation. 

The Sri Lanka Pakistan Business Council thanked the two Ministers and the officials from the Pakistan High Commission in Sri Lanka especially Dr S A K Sipra & Hassan Zaigham for all their untiring assistance towards enhancing trade and investment between the two nations.

The signing of an MoU between the Pakistan Sri Lanka Business Council of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Sri Lanka Pakistan Business Council of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce also took place in Karachi, Pakistan.  The two Business Councils, under the signed MoU will work together towards enhancing trade, investment and tourism ties between the two sides. 

The Pakistan Sri Lanka Business Council hosted its counterpart member delegation to a gala dinner at Karachi Boat Club with the participation of Acting Secretary-General of FPCCI Alam Khan, Mazhar Mufti, President of FPCCI Abdul Rauf Alam, TDAP Chief Executive S. M. Muneer, Chairman of PSLBC Imran Khalil Naseer, and Consul General for Sri Lanka in Karachi H. M. H. Herath among the distinguished gathering.