ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CU)_ Ruhul Alam Siddique, Bangladeshi High Commissioner to Pakistan, paid a visit to the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) on Tuesday. Former presidents, members of the executive council and chamber members along with President of the Chamber, Mohamamd Nasir Mirza, Senior Vice President Osman Ashraf, Vice President Shahraiz A Malik were also present. The High Commissioner told Mirza, that Bangladesh values its ties with Pakistan and that the two countries have a long historic relationship.
According to the high commissioner, the sectors of construction materials, light engineering, surgical products, sporting goods, food manufacturing, denim, cotton, yarn, tourism, and pharmaceuticals will be explored for mutual trade opportunities. Noting that this was his first visit to any chamber, he lauded the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce for its role in developing trade and industry.
The high commissioner went on to say that the trade balance between the two countries has always favored Pakistan, standing at $700 million for Pakistani exports and $50 million for Bangladeshi exports. He said that trade and economic relations between the two countries will support the development of both the countries, and that his office is prepared to help businesspeople obtain visas for their business ventures.
The Chamber President said that Bangladesh is a prominent member of SAARC and that the Chamber is ready to coordinate in any way for delegation exchanges and bilateral business conferences. Tourism, education, agriculture, information technology, and pharmaceuticals are the areas where bilateral trade can be encouraged. The relationship between the two countries must be improved at the level of the Chamber of Commerce, and Bangladeshi investors can benefit from Pakistan’s investment opportunities.
