LAHORE: During a recent visit to the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Regional Office in Lahore, Zaki Aijaz, Regional Chairman and Vice President, highlighted the pivotal role Trade & Investment Officers (TIOs) play in bolstering Pakistan’s exports and fostering international business collaborations.

Aijaz emphasized the significance of TIOs in facilitating joint ventures, organizing business-to-business meetings, coordinating trade delegations, and hosting Single Country Exhibitions to strengthen ties between the Pakistani business community and counterparts abroad.

He urged TIOs to provide quarterly trade data, enabling the business community to leverage import-export insights for the introduction of new products and technologies. “For our common goal of increasing Pakistan’s exports to $100 billion in the next decade, effective marketing is paramount,” stated Zaki Aijaz. He underscored the need for TIOs to support the business community with information on tariffs and duties related to specific HS codes to promote trade.

FPCCI Vice President Qurrat ul Ain advocated for enhanced communication, suggesting that sharing monthly reports and data with FPCCI from commercial missions would enable more informed decision-making and research-based suggestions.

Shahzad Ahmed Khan, Director General Punjab of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), endorsed FPCCI’s recommendations, acknowledging their efforts in promoting export. Notable industry experts, including former President of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Shahzad Ali Malik, provided insights on various sectors like rice, poultry, frozen food, packaging, fan industry, dairy, automotive parts, and logistics during the visit.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024