Parliamentary Secretary, National Heritage and Culture Division Ghazala Saifi on Monday called upon the local business community for focusing on promoting trade and exports with Azerbaijan to capitalize on the available business opportunities in its market.
She stated this while addressing the business community during his visit to Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI).
She said the private sector of Azerbaijan had shown great interest in many Pakistani products including rice, pharmaceuticals, marble and granite and others.
Ghazala Saifi was of the view that the commercial counsellors in Pakistani foreign missions should be appointed in consultation with the business community and they should focus on identifying new opportunities for promoting Pakistan’s trade and exports in foreign countries.
She proposed that the private sector should consider setting up display centres in foreign countries to show the export potential of Pakistani products that would help in boosting exports.
She assured that she would take up the highlighted issues of the business community with relevant authorities for redress. Speaking at the occasion, Muhammad Shakeel Munir, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the high taxes and duties on imports of industrial machinery, plants, equipment and parts were causes of high production cost and creating hurdles in promoting industrialization.
He urged the government to reduce such taxes and duties in the upcoming budget to reduce production cost and boost manufacturing activities.
He said Pakistan had great potential to enhance exports of many products including marble and granite, pharmaceuticals, rice, IT products and services for which close cooperation and support of the government was important. —APP
