Iranian delegation, LCCI discuss possibilities of JVs in various sectors

LAHORE: A high-powered Iranian delegation on Monday visited the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry to explore the possibilities of joint ventures between private sectors of the two countries in iron and steel, home textiles, dried fruits, livestock, healthcare products, cables, construction, confectionery, foodstuffs and other sectors of the economy.

LCCI Senior Vice-President Mian Rehman Aziz presented the address of welcome while Vice-President Haris Ateeq, former senior vice-president Amjad Ali Jawa, EC members Mian Ateeq-ur-Rehman, Chaudhry Wajid, Shamim Akhter, Shahzad Butt and Ali Afzal, former EC members Aqib Asif, Fiaz Haider, Hafi Asif Sehar and Kamal Mahmood Amjad Mian also spoke on the occasion.

Head of the delegation Saeed Manawi said that in order to increase the two-way trade volume, we must ensure the timely exchange of trade and investment-related information about the each other’s markets. He said that Pakistan and Iran have deep fraternal relations and therefore these relations should be reflected in the trade as well.

He said that both countries are resource-rich countries and there is a lot of scope to boost mutual trade and economic ties.

LCCI Senior Vice-President Mian Rehman Aziz Chan said that the importance of such interaction is hard to be measured. It provides a unique opportunity to directly interact with each other which consequently leads to strengthening of long-lasting trade and economic relations.

He said that Pakistan and Iran share deep religious, historic and cultural bond. He said that we proudly recognize our bilateral relations with Iran as time-tested and based on good faith.

He said that the LCCI President Mian Nauman Kabir led a trade delegation to Iran in February 2022. The delegation had great interactions with the key representatives of public and private sectors in Tehran, Mashhad and Esfahan.

It was a great experience altogether and I am very happy to receive the Iranian counterparts in Lahore Chamber, he said.

He said that the people of Iran take great pride while expressing their feelings and thoughts about their homeland. Iran’s roots as a distinctive culture and society date back to the Achaemenian period, which began in 550 BCE. Iran is a culturally diverse society, and inter-ethnic relations are generally amicable. It has a long history of scholarship that has created a rich culture of art, literature, poetry, music, cuisine and architecture.

Chan informed the house that respected Iranian delegates belong to important cities of Iran including Tehran, Mashhad, Esfahan, Yazd and Sirjan. They have visited Pakistan to showcase their products in three-day Business Opportunities Exhibition starting from 24th May 2022 in Pearl Continental Hotel, Lahore being jointly organised by Aresa International Event & Trade Management (Iran) and Bukhari Group of Companies (Pakistan).

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022