Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif is expected to have a meeting with President Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in Tashkent this year to remove bottlenecks hampering Pak-Russia bilateral trade said His Excellency Alexey y. Dedov Ambassador of the Russian Federation. He was addressing a meeting hosted in his honour by local business leaders here Monday at Chenab Limited.
He said that bilateral trade between Pakistan and Russia is far below their huge potential and serious efforts are needed to capitalise these potentialities. However, in this connection the business communities of the two countries have to play their invigorated role in addition to the governmental support from both the countries.
He said that Russian government was fully convinced and was making serious efforts for the promotion of social, cultural and people to people contacts which will ultimately provide a strong base for the enhanced businesses between the two countries.
"Improved relationship between the business communities will not only bring their people closer but also provide them an opportunity to double the bilateral trade", he added.
He said that Russian government has evolved a new strategy to support Pakistani businessmen and help them to start their business in Russia which has huge potential for the re-export to their products to other Central Asian states.
Mian Muhammad Latif, Chairman Chenab Group of Industries presented a briefing and told that Russian products are freely available in Pakistan. However Russian government should now facilitate Pakistani exporters to have direct access to their markets.
He particularly quoted the high quality handmade furniture of Chiniot and said that it has huge demand in Russian market but the Russian government should facilitate Pakistani exporters to fill up the existing gap. He also welcomed the offer of Russian Ambassador to invest in Russia and said that he will seriously review this offer for the mutual benefit of two countries.