|
Commerce Ministers of India and Pakistan today underlined the importance of giving a major thrust to trade as the most effective means of improving bilateral relations. Addressing an interactive meeting with the Indian industry jointly organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & industry (FICCI) and PHD (Punjab, Haryana & Delhi) Chamber of Commerce, here today, both Mr. Humayun Akhtar Khan, the Commerce Minister of Pakistan and Shri Kamal Nath, the Commerce & Industry Minister of India, responded positively to the industry’s plea for liberalisation of visa regime to facilitate trade and expressed confidence that the coming months would see greater trade as well as regional integration between the two countries with the SAARC Free Area (SAFTA) coming into operation from 1st of January 2006. Both the Ministers said that it was incumbent upon governments to respect the aspirations of their business communities for closer trade and economic relations.
As an illustration of the progress made in bilateral trade relations in the last one year, Shri Kamal Nath cited the latest trade figures which indicate that India’s imports from Pakistan during the first quarter April-June of the current financial year 2005-06 have increased by a record of 150% (at US $ 29.18 million compared to US $ 11 million in the corresponding period of the previous year) while exports to Pakistan during the same quarter have gone up by about 8% (valued at US $ 155.18 million compared to $ 143 million in April-June of last year). Stating that this was a welcome trend, Shri Kamal Nath said “ours is a partnership which can be the strongest in the region and we are moving in that direction”.
Mr. Humayun Akhtar Khan noted the keenness on both sides to expand trade. “Complementarities exist between our two economies. We have the composite dialogue going of which trade is an important part and a Joint Study Group looking into trade issues. We are clear on what we need to do now – make politicians in our two countries move forward as this is our responsibility to our business communities. It is historic that the top leadership of our two countries are now engaged in a dialogue and there is realisation that we have to improve our relationship and bring our two great countries together. Businessmen no doubt see opportunities but other segments of our societies have to be exposed too. I am, therefore, happy to note that the visa regime as an issue is coming up in bilateral negotiations. Our endeavour is to see that it is liberalised as much as possible….. Travel should be easy for all and not just businessmen. The first thing is more exposure for our two countries and getting to know each other – that is what will bring pressure on politicians to break new ground. I see the light in front of me (not just at the end of the tunnel). 58 years is just a blip in history – let’s not be pessimistic”, Mr. Khan said.
Mr. Khan emphasised the important role that the media of the two countries – both print and electronic – could play in changing the mindset on both sides. “The obstacles are in the mind and should be removed”, he said. He also indicated that steps were underway to revise and update the shipping agreement between the two countries to facilitate trade. He invited the FICCI to participate in the Expo 2006 and Expo 2007 in Karachi and Lahore respectively.
Earlier, Mr. Azar Sayeed Butt, Co-President, India-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in his address said that the time had come for the two countries to move forward on trade as a second track diplomacy. Shri Onkar Kanwar, President of FICCI and President, India-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that both the economies were poised to forge closer links and quoted the President Musharraf as saying that “geo politics must give way to geo economics” for a leap forward in trade. He referred to the first Made in India show being organised by FICCI and its counterpart in Pakistan in Lahore on 10-16 November, 2005.
Others who spoke on the occasion were: Shri K.N. Memani, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Dr. Amit Mitra, Secretary General, FICCI who moderated the programme which included a question& answer session.
SB/MRS
|
