LAHORE: Belgiun Ambassador to Pakistan Philippe Bronchain said on Mondaythat trade, investment, economic and friendly relations between the twocountries were very important to him and he has a mission to make thesestronger.
Talking to the business community here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce &Industry (LCCI), he said that Belgium and Pakistan enjoyed over 70 years ofcordial relations which had gradually expanded.
The ambassador said that Belgium had always emphasised the importance oftrade and investment and people-to-people contacts, asserting thatbilateral trade between Belgium and Pakistan had more than doubled over thelast few decades and could be further increased through joint efforts.
He said the both countries should identify more areas for cooperation andshould also introduce more tradable items to enhance mutual trade volume.Pakistan should take full advantage of best geographical position ofBelgium in European Union, he added.
He underscored that there should be more interaction between businesscommunities of the two countries to enhance trade and economic cooperation.Pakistan was given the GSP Plus Status by European Union and it must getavail full benefits of this facility.
LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh said that Pakistan and Belgium had verycordial diplomatic relations and both the countries had been steady tradingpartners as well.
He mentioned that Belgium came simultaneously at 6th place among topimporting as well as exporting countries in the European Union.
The LCCI president said: “Pakistan has been experiencing favourable balanceof trade with Belgium and we wish to maintain it. There were betterprospects of increasing trade and investment relations on the basis ofGSP-Plus status.”
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“We must find ways to enhance the current level of trade throughidentifying more items of trade,” he suggested.
He added that there were good prospects for undertaking joint ventures inPakistan with the help of Belgian experience and technical know-how in thefields of agro-food processing, chemicals, surgical instruments, paper andpaperboard, dairy, fertilizers and many more.
While, LCCI Senior Vice President Ali Hussam Asghar said that bilateraltrade volume between Pakistan and Belgium had decreased which should befocused immediately. He said the Lahore Chamber had declared exportemergency along with diplomatic emergency to increase Pakistan’s exportsand to strengthen diplomatic ties with countries all around the globe.
For this purpose, he said, the LCCI had decided to have comprehensivediscussions with foreign missions here in Pakistan.
Trade Commissioner of Belgium Abid Hussan said that Belgium highlyencouraged Pakistani business community to have joint ventures with theircounterparts in Belgium. Though there were dips in bilateral trade, thiswas a normal thing, he said and added that there was an overall businesscompression in Pakistan which affected the trade between the two sides.
