Dr Mohammad Reza Aref, First Vice-President of Iran, has said that the signing of seven agreements in 12 sectors will boost co-operation between Iran and Pakistan in the areas of trade, investment, banking, transportation, culture and communication sectors.
Speaking at a meeting of Federation of Pakistan Cambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), he emphasised the need that business community of both countries should utilise their entrepreneurship and capabilities to create suitable grounds for further expansion of economic, commercial and industrial relations between the two neighbouring countries, thus being instrumental in economic development of each country.
The Vice-President of Iran said that the present world is at the threshold of a fundamental change and the future will differ profoundly from the past, characterised by economy as being the principal manifestation of this change, making greater contribution far more that ever before and having a bigger share in all aspects of human life. Therefore, the role and impact of sectors active in this area will become more evident than others.
As a result, this will be a key factor compelling the governments, especially those with many commonalties, to review and reconsider their relationships and place the patterns for relationship between themselves upon a new foundation.
He said if Iran is to look for a country among its neighbours, with which it shares greater cultural, social, historical and political values and closeness, no doubt Pakistan will be in a distinct and high position.
"It is this very feature that has prompted Iran and Pakistan to be in the forefront of regional economic co-operation and play a dynamic role in organisations such as the Economic Co-operation Organisation (ECO), the group of the Developing-8 and also encourage others to play a more active role in these groupings. It is this very reason that always makes officials of the two countries to emphasise on all-out expansion and promotion of economic, commercial and trade relations," he added
Dr Aref said that holding sessions of the joint economic commission, increasing the volume of trade and working towards creating more and greater facilities in trade relations and reducing the obstacles and impediments in the way of those active in economic and trade field, have always been a great concern of both countries, each of which has taken valuable steps in this direction.
He said that there is no doubt that alongside the governments, the active and dynamic private sectors of both countries play a significant role in expansion of these ties.
These sectors through their activities could be influential and have an immense impact.
Therefore, all business community should shoulder a greater responsibility and play an outstanding role in expansion and strengthening of economic industrial and trade relations.
He said that in this framework, chambers of commerce and industries of both countries, as the most prominent bodies representing the private sectors, can take useful strides in the direction of broadening of economic relations and creating facilities and can even go beyond and make their governments to become proactive.
Dr Aref said that the third Economic Development Plan of Iran , by scoring huge success in various domains, including increasing share of the private sector in the country's economic, providing facilities for foreign investors and increasing the volume of foreign trade, support the correctness of vision of statesmen of the country and their emphasis on the necessity of attention to the needs of the present world and their efforts towards creating a secure and appropriate grounds for investment by the private sector and attracting foreign investment.
He said that this outlook and approach has been followed at a larger scale in the fourth development plan, thus opening a new horizon.
He said that during meeting with Pakistan officials in Islamabad "we talked about increasing the bilateral trade to one billion dollars", and added that "we can go beyond this limit if the private sector of the two countries make serious efforts in this regard".
He said that it was important to strengthen and activate the joint Pakistan Iran Business Council to improve its role in the economic development of their countries.
He said that Iran and Pakistan have discussed setting up of border markets for the benefit of the people of the two countries.
Welcoming the guests, Riaz Ahmed Tata, President FPCCI, said that the recently signed agreements between Iran and Pakistan would provide the required leverage to promote and increase economic co-operation between the two countries.
The 58-member Iranian delegation includes Engineer Khorran, Minister of Road and Transportation, Mazaheri , Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, Mohsen Aminzadeh, Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, Khosrow Taj, Deputy Minister of Commerce, Taheran, Ambassador of Iran in Pakistan and others.
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