LAHORE: Iran and Pakistan should launch joint ventures in coal energy, dairy farming and other sectors, Iran's Ambassador to Pakistan Mashallah Shakeri said.
Speaking at Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry, he said Pakistani businessmen should avail Iranian expertise as both countries have great potential for enhancing economic cooperation among business communities. "Exchange of business delegations could pave way to explore areas of common interest.
Iran would provide technical and other assistance to Pakistan to overcome energy crisis."
Shakeri hoped industrial exchange program would help promote trade relations. Iran is willing to import rice, meat, fruits and many other items from Pakistan. Iran and Punjab government were going to set up slaughterhouses in Lahore.
He said Iran made tremendous progress in various sectors and there is vast scope of cooperation in energy sector. "We could also help Pakistan in producing electricity from water, coal, air and solar options." Both countries should enhance further cooperation in trade, industry, other sectors.
LCCI President Irfan Qaiser felt both countries have yet to realize their full potential. Pakistan and Iran have large domestic markets and unique geo-strategic competitive advantage. He gave proposals as to how both brotherly countries could enhance bilateral trade and two-way business.
He said Iran, Pakistan gas pipeline project, supply of electricity, offer to help Pakistan tackle its growing energy crisis and in starting of Islamabad, Tehran, Istanbul train service would go a long way. There is no doubt that both sides consistently managed to maintain bilateral trade over $1 billion mark. However, this is far below true trade potential existing in both sides, he observed.
"I strongly believe we have potential to increase annual bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2015.
Facilitating bilateral trade in local currencies can be instrumental in seriously improving two-way trade. China and Russia already started trade in their local currencies. Barter trade should also be actively facilitated since it can be highly efficient mode of buying and selling. It is high time that we also put in place such mechanisms," Irfan Qaiser added.
Copyright PPI (Pakistan Press International), 2011
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.