SLPBC luncheon meeting with Pakistan High Commissioner

Monday, 10 March 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sri Lanka-Pakistan Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce hosted a luncheon meeting with the Pakistan High Commissioner General Qasim Qureshi on 19 February at the Taj Samudra Hotel. The Sri Lanka-Pakistan Business Council facilitated this event with the objective of highlighting the new Pakistani Government’s strategic intent and the cropping up trade opportunities the Sri Lankan business community ought to be on the lookout for. The event was inclusive of a presentation by the First Secretary Hassan Zaigham followed by a Question and Answer session opened out to the participants and closing comments by the High Commissioner.

The meeting was attended by Chathurika Perera, Assistant Director of Commerce from the Department of Commerce, W.D. Jayasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Amna Baloch, Deputy Head of Mission, Pakistan High Commission and a significant number of participants from the business community. It proved to be the ideal opportunity to discuss and gain insight into Pakistan’s prospective trade opportunities and the existing markets in Pakistan that Sri Lankan exporters can exploit. Hassan Zaigham encouraged businessmen to invest in industries like tea and rubber which showcase massive potential, yet don’t seem to be catered to by the sri lankan tea and rubber exporters. Currently Sri Lankan tea holds a mere 2% of the market share in Pakistan. The Leisure sector was yet another industry highlighted as one with rising potential. He further articulated on the FTA between the two countries and the existing lack of correspondence, awareness and failure to draw on it for trade enhancement. The High Commissioner elaborated on the investment and trading opportunities with Pakistan and key influencing factors such as the Indo-Pakistan relations, Afghanistan’s ground situation and Pakistan’s internal state of affairs. The President of the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Business Council Rohitha Thilakaratne thanked the High Commissioner and the Deputy HC for working closely with the Council to promote bilateral trade and Investment. He further extended his gratitude towards the SLPBC members and participants for attending the event and sharing their valuable insights into making the council more vibrant and taking the forefront in meeting the objective of amplifying trade. He further invited Sri Lankan counterparts to take up membership with the SLPBC and encouraged Pakistan companies to invest in Sri Lanka, especially in the areas of pharmaceutical, leisure, construction and sugar industries. In overall the event comprehensively covered all aspects relating to means through which Sri Lanka and Pakistan could improve bilateral trade and how the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Business Council and High Commission could act as an interface for bringing about such a transformation.