KARACHI: Iranian Consul General, Reza Nazeri, has stressed the need for strengthening trade ties between two neighboring countries, saying Iran is ready for barter trade with Pakistan, including the export of petrochemicals, steel and LPG to Pakistan in exchange for rice, meat and other agriculture products from Pakistan.
During an address made at the second meeting of the FPCCI Pak-Iran Business Council held here at its regional office, the Iranian Consul General said that Iranian Consulate of Lahore is ready to facilitate Pakistan’s private sector to promote bilateral trade and investment. Zahid Iqbal Ch. Vice President FPCCI, Dr. Mohammad Reza Karbasi, Director General of ICCIA & ICCIMA, Ali Asghar, Commercial Counselor, Najam-ul- Hassan, Chairman FPCCI Pak-Iran Business Council and Syed Ali Raza Rizvi, Senior Vice Chairman FPCCI Pak-Iran Business also spoke on the occasion.
“We are trying the restore air link between Tehran and Lahore as early as possible which was suspended due to Covid-19, also affecting tourism sector of Iran,” he lamented. “The volume of two-way trade between Pakistan and Iran is negligible, as the mutual trade of two countries does not match their respective potentials.”
Nazeri observed that Pakistan and Iran have the potential to cater to each other’s needs provided businessmen in both countries have the exposure to avail opportunities.
The business community in the two countries would have to increase interaction to share their experiences in the larger interests of the people of two brotherly nations, he added. “Chambers of commerce in our two countries will have to focus on expansion of trade by holding single-country exhibitions and through trade delegations to each other’s country. Dissemination of sector-specific and trade-related information would go a long way in achieving this goal.”