Valadimir P. Mikhalov, Consul General of Russia, invited Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) to send trade delegation to Russia for which he assured to extend all his co-operation.
Speaking at a meeting of KCCI, he suggested that KCCI may send proposals to strengthen the bilateral trade relations and he will be supporting and recommending all measures to improve the opportunities of communication and contact between the businessmen of the two countries.
While agreeing with Hamid Nisar, KCCI Acting President, he said that economic diplomacy and trade relations between the two countries certainly need improvement.
He said that recently in FPCCI a Council of Pakistan - Russia Businessmen - has been formed to work at improving trade relations.
Valadimir told that now in Russia private sector is growing fast and a non-governmental organisation in Moscow is managing for assistance to foreign businessmen.
An NGO at Saint Petersburg is dealing matters of Russia-Asia Partnership and Siberia Company is providing assistance in finding good business partners in Russia for those who want to establish business partnership.
The Russian Consul General also told that there was an intention to soon open an Islamic University in Moscow to provide a basis for intellectual exchange between the Islamic scholars and to promote better understanding among diverse culture of the contemporary world.
Welcoming the guests, Hamid Nisar, Acting President, KCCI, said that despite no political impediments the Trade between Russia and Pakistan is quite insignificant, although potential do exist, and it only needs exploration.
Hamid Nisar stressed the need for more and more inter-action between the business community of two countries by exchange of trade delegation.
He also suggested of arranging "single country exhibition" to introduce products of Russia and Pakistan to consumers and traders.
"Pakistan is a market of the 14 Billion dollars and Petro-Chemcial and Steel are two important products that can be imported from Russia. Similarly, Textile is main exportable items of Pakistan.
Effort should be made to explore all possibilities to enhance the trade of these items between the two countries.
The KCCI will provide all support in creating linkages between Pakistan business community and the Russian entrepreneurs to improve the trade relations between the two countries, said Hamid Nisar.
Suggestions were also made in the meeting that the businessmen of Pakistan may be granted visa liberally on the recommendations of KCCI, so that more and more contacts between the business communities of two countries are established.