Zubair Qureshi Islamabad
President of the Pak-Africa Business Forum, Omar Shahid Butt has termed Rwanda gateway to Africa for Pakistan.
“Increasing trade with Africa can open up the entire continent for Pakistani exports,” said Omar Shahid Butt who was addressing the business community at a high tea in honor of the Pakistani High Commissioner-designate for Rwanda Mr. Naeem Khan. Major exporters and representatives of the Pakistan business community participated in the event. Among the exporters who participated in the event were representatives of the pharma sector, textile sector, IT sector, and the representatives of the electrical cables sector also graced the occasion. A comprehensive strategy was formulated to increase Pakistani exports to African countries including Rwanda, Congo. Speaking on this occasion, Omar Shahid Butt said that Look Africa is an excellent initiative to increase Pak-Africa trade relations, but this initiative of the government needs the support of the private sector, and he expressed his determination to support the government in this matter in the country’s interest. He said Africa is a region rich in resources and Africa has mineral resources and raw materials that Pakistan can import and it can be beneficial for the industry of Pakistan and by using this raw material, Pakistan can manufacture its export products and export them to Africa. The president of the Pak- Africa Business Forum said that Pakistan already imports a large amount of tea from Rwanda, while Rwanda’s IT industry is also very active, and both countries can work together in this sector to achieve common goals. Mr. Naeem khan while speaking to the attendees said that there are many opportunities in Rwanda in the textile and pharma industry sectors which can be taken advantage of.
He said that Rwanda has the potential to become a hub for Pakistani export products and Pakistan can export its products to other countries from Rwanda.