Canada wants to enhance trade, investment and cooperation: HC

High Commissioner of Canada Perry Calderwood has said on Thursday that Pakistan and Canada could enhance their trade and investment cooperation in different sectors including agriculture, renewable energy, oil and gas, mining and infrastructure etc, particularly here in Karachi and also in other parts of Sindh Province.
Speaking at a meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), he said there was a tremendous potential to enhance trade between Pakistan and Canada as both countries had significant trade volume and longstanding economic relationship. "Canada is strong in all said sectors so I believe potential is there. The Challenge, of course, for me and also for Pakistan's High Commissioner in Canada is to translate this potential into concrete activity," he said, adding that Pakistan and Canada had a very broad relationship as both countries had been cooperating with each other in a range of areas since past many decades.
Canadian High Commissioner, who arrived in Pakistan just two months ago, said that he was new to this part of the world but was looking forward to learn a lot, try to absorb maximum information about Pakistan and identify the ways and means of how to further improve the existing relations between Pakistan and Canada. He stated that this was his first visit to Karachi, which is the financial and commercial centre of Pakistan with a huge population of 23 million, contributing a large portion of tax. He said that thriving activities, lot of energies and dynamism here encouraged me to visit this city in order to meet the business and industrial community of Karachi Chamber.
He pointed out that Canada had been extending support to eradicate polio from Pakistan, which was being done globally in those countries where polio still existed. He said Canadians were encouraged that great progress was made in case of Pakistan and they were fairly optimistic that polio would be eradicated by the end of this year.
Canadian diplomat further said that they were also active in the area of women economic empowerment which was one of the priorities of the development programs for Pakistan. He said that women economic empowerment was a priority of Canada's government, both in domestic policy and also in foreign development policy. "Canadian government strongly believes that for any country looking forward to achieve full potential, it is important that the entire population be allowed to participate and be empowered whether it is the economy, business, politics, governance, academia or any other field. Hence, we put great emphasis to empower women and develop the entrepreneurial skills amongst women," he elaborated.
He said that education was the third area in which Canada was active. Around 4,000 Pakistani students were currently studying in Canada which was one of the fastest growing groups. He said he heard very positive things from Canadian Universities who said that Pakistani students were some of the excellent students and they really enriched their universities. He said that 300,000 Pakistanis were living in Canada who could be very helpful in building economic and other ties between Canada and Pakistan as they know Canada and Pakistan very well. He looked forward to leveraging and working with the Pakistani community in Canada for strengthening relationships.
Perry Calderwood expressed keenness to make all-out efforts towards encouraging the Canadian businessmen and investors to come to this part of the world. President of the KCCI Shamim Ahmed Firpo said that Pakistan and Canada shared longstanding economic and political relations as they had been working together in various fields.
He said the mutual relations between the two countries had gradually shifted from providing development aid to engaging in bilateral trade with Pakistan by Canada.
He informed that during 2015-16, total trade volume between Pakistan and Canada stood at $684 million, of which Pakistan's exported goods amounted to $231 million whereas its imports from Canada stood at around $453 million. "There is a huge potential to enhance trade between Pakistan and Canada. In this regard, Pakistan Railways may seek bids from Canadian Pacific Railway for procurement of locomotives and the textile sector of Pakistan must also look for opportunities in the Canadian market of baby clothing as Canada had cut import tariffs on baby clothes made from wool, cotton and synthetic fibers," he pointed out.
Firpo underscored that the KCCI wanted to promote business, mutual understanding and friendly relations between the business communities of Pakistan and Canada. He said KCCI also wanted to promote Canadian investment in Pakistan and do everything for the development of Pakistan-Canada business cooperation. He emphasized on the need to promote trade, commerce and economic cooperation between the two countries, advocate steps to foster and organize trade and investment delegations, trade fairs, exhibitions, seminars and meetings etc.
He also invited Canadian companies to participate in the 14th My Karachi - Oasis of Harmony exhibition scheduled to be organized in the month of April next year which would provide an excellent opportunity to Canadian businessmen and industrialists to showcase their products and create strong linkages with the business community of Karachi.
Honorary Consul of Canada Bayram D. Avari, Trade Commissioner of Canada Athar Moeen Khan, Senior Vice President KCCI Asif Nisar, Vice President KCCI Muhammad Younus Soomro, former President KCCI Majyd Aziz, Chairman Diplomatic Missions & Embassies Liaison Sub-Committee Altaf A. Ghaffar, former VP KCCI Muhammad Idrees and KCCI Managing Committee members were present at the meeting.