Huge scope to expand Pak, France trade ties: ICCI

ISLAMABAD: Ghalib Iqbal, Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate to France visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) to discuss bilateral relation between Islamabad and Paris before his departure to France.

Ghalib Iqbal said that he would ensure to pass on information to Pakistani business community regarding trade opportunities available in France so they could take benefit and enhance trade ties with France.

He said that over $ 1.5 billion trade volume between Pakistan and France was enough to make the point that both the sides have multifaceted and strong trade ties.

The Ambassador designate assured that, he would do at his best for the business promotion and asked the President ICCI to keep him forwarding feedback and business interest of Pakistani businessmen.

He was of the opinion that a delegation from ICCI be organized in the future and he would feel privileged to make the visit of the delegation truly productive and beneficial to them in the best interest of the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Zafar Bakhtawari, President ICCI appreciated the vision and foresight of the Ambassador for his visits to various Chambers of Commerce before departure to France.

He said that Ghalib Iqbal’s posting as Ambassador of Pakistan to France would usher in a new era of cooperation between the two countries.

Bakhtawari said that the annual bilateral trade between France and Pakistan was quite encouraging which needs to be further enhanced and strengthened through joint ventures, technology transfer, and investment cooperation.

ICCI President said that commercial Offices and Pakistani embassies abroad should send market study reports to Chambers regularly which would help exporters to know market potential of their exports around the globe.

ICCI President informed the Ambassador that ICCI has completed the super structure of Export Display Center which would serve as window to the world for Pakistani products as well as foreign companies could also display their products that would definitely enhance the bilateral trade ties between Pakistan and other countries.

Bakhtawari assured the Ambassador on his request to finance and assist the dubbing of 4 Pakistani drama serials from Urdu to French language. 

He also highlighted that France is one of the most visited tourist state as around 80million tourists visited France, therefore Pakistani Envoy should also focus this area to promote tourism in Pakistan as well.  

He was of the view that Pakistan and France are loosing the warmness of their relations which were very strong before the Clod War.

ICCI President expressed hope that Ghalib Iqbal with his dynamic vision would bring that era back in the relation of both the countries as France is the 5th largest economy of the world and 2nd best partner of Pakistan in EU.