'Pakistan, Thailand can collaborate in agriculture, hospitality industry'

LAHORE: There is a good scope of collaboration between Pakistan and Thailand in agriculture and hospitality industry as Pakistan is an agrarian country while Thailand’s agriculture sector has registered robust growth and contributed heavily in exports.

Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Malik Tahir Javaid expressed these views during a meeting with government officials of Thailand and speaking at supreme business forums, according to LCCI spokesman here Tuesday.

Chairman of the Federation of Thail Industries Chen Namchaisiri Chairman, Dr. Boonpeng Santiwattanatam, Somyod Tangmeelarp, Achana Limpaitoon, Mingpant Chaya, Ms. Kultida Charoensawad, Chartchai Singhadeja, Manus Aree, Theeraphat Kaosaiyanant, Ms. Duangchai Oden, Parinya Ketkam, Panit Sricheewachart, Ms. Wareerat Chansoontorn Analyyst, Ms. Nuntanut Kumponkanjana International Business Development Manager, Somchai Muyjeen Manager, Petrochemical Industry Club and members of the LCCI delegation also spoke on the occasion.

LCCI President said that private sectors of the two countries must forward to each other and establish long-term partnership to reap fruit of huge potential in two countries. He said that this collaboration would help share and technology transfer to Pakistani agriculture sector.

With an aim to attract investors of Thailand, he said that economy of Pakistan was growing steadily and its consumer market was developing rapidly, and it was emerging as trade, energy and transport corridor in Asia and this advantage made Pakistan a destination full of opportunities. "Pakistan has very good strategical location and is a gateway to the oil and mineral resources rich Central Asian Republics and also a member of SAARC which together make up a market of 1.5 billion people. It is also close to Gulf countries and African horn. Any investment made in Pakistan will find market in these countries," he continued.

Malik Tahir Javaid mentioned that World Economic Forum had declared Pakistan better than India as an emerging economy, adding that Pakistan's GDP growth reached to 5.3 percent previous year while it was expected to reach up to six percent by end this year.

He said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project would change the destiny of Pakistan, as the two countries were taking ahead the project to its next stages successfully, and today, the world was eying Pakistan besides terming it as an ideal country for investment.

LCCI President urged the businessmen of both countries to join hands to give new height to their respective economies. Pakistan also offered a lot of opportunities for foreign investors in the form of joint ventures with Pakistani counterparts, he maintained.

LCCI President said that Thailand had highly advanced industries such as electrical appliances, computers, televisions, integrated circuits, textiles & garments, furniture, plastics. It was the second largest tungsten producer and third largest producer of tin, therefore, Thai investors could relocate some of these industries in Pakistan.

The LCCI delegation members Shahid Nazir, Muhammad Wasim, Haseeb Khawar, Shabbir Bhatti, Malik Muhammad Islam, Muhammad Farooq, Mian Faisal Majeed and Muhammad Arshad Bhatti also had B-2-B (Business to Business) meetings with their Thai counterparts.