KARACHI: Ambassador of Belgium Charles Delogne has said his country has been enjoying strong business relations with Pakistan and that an exhibition about Belgian companies at the Karachi chamber provides a perfect opportunity to further develop trade and commercial ties between the two countries.
Speaking at the daylong Belgian Catalogue Exhibition organised at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Thursday, he said it is his third visit to Karachi since assuming charge as an ambassador because he is keen on enhancing trade and investment ties with the business community of the mega-city, which is the financial capital of the country.
Trade Commissioner of Belgium Abid Hussain, KCCI President Mohammed Tariq Yousuf, Chairman of Diplomatic Missions and Embassies Liaison Subcommittee Zia ul Arfeen, chamber’s former senior vice president Arshad Islam, former vice president Qazi Zahid Hussain and members of the KCCI Managing Committee were also present on the occasion.
The Belgian ambassador appreciated the KCCI for allowing the exhibition to be held on its premises and also praised the trade commissioner for successfully arranging it.
In his remarks, the president of KCCI said the Belgian Catalogue Exhibition was undoubtedly a very important source of information for Karachi’s business community, whose members got the opportunity to learn about the products and services offered by Belgium.
“It is a very good opportunity which would help in connecting Pakistani businessmen with their Belgian counterparts,” said Tariq Yousuf, adding that catalogues carrying details of 260 companies were made available at the exhibition.
He said collaboration between business communities of the two friendly countries should be strengthened in such a manner that Pakistani companies eventually start manufacturing all the state-of-the-art products themselves which are currently being produced by Belgian companies, particularly those pertaining to the Belgium’s engineering sector.
“We have to learn from Belgian expertise and focus on technology transfer which would surely prove fruitful for Pakistan’s manufacturing sector and the country’s economy,” he said, adding that keeping in view Pakistan’s rich resources and talent, it is hoped that the business and industrial community here would be able to produce all the fine-quality goods being manufactured in Belgium.
He was fairly optimistic that the catalogue exhibition would pave the way for stronger trade and business ties between Pakistan and Belgium.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2023