Pakistan and Africa bilateral trade to increase manifold

Pakistan and Africa bilateral trade to increase manifold

Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce, Abdul Razak Dawood on Tuesday said trade between Pakistan and African region would increase manifolds in coming years through enhancing trade and economic cooperation between both sides.

The Advisor stressed that given the concrete opportunities that exist between the two sides, Pakistan and African countries trade would be increased.

The Advisor said this while addressing the Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conference and single country exhibition held on November 23-45, 2021 in Lagos Nigeria, said a press release issued by Ministry of Commerce here.

The Ministry of Commerce in collaboration with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan held the 2nd Pakistan –Africa Trade Development Conference (PATDC) in Lagos.

Razak Dawood said despite challenges, there would be a steady, gradual but persistent growth in Pakistan-Africa trade with enhanced levels of engagement by both sides, public officials as well as the private sector.

Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce, Abdul Razak Dawood led 232 member business delegations along with senior officials from Ministry of Commerce, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in conference.

Under Look Africa Policy various initiatives had been taken by the Ministry of Commerce to enhance trade relations with African states.

Second PATDC had been organized in Lagos, Nigeria aiming to further enhance our commercial ties with member states of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS).

ECOWAS is a 15-member regional group with a mandate of promoting economic integration, member countries constituting ECOWAS are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo.

Nigeria being the largest economy in the ECOWAS is extremely important to enhance commercial and institutional linkages with ECOWAS member states and was accordingly selected for holding the second of a series of PATDC. —APP