Private sectors of India, Pak to be facilitated: Zafar Mehmood
April 28th, 2011 - 10:56 am ICT by ANIIslamabad, April 28(ANI): Private sectors of Pakistan and India will be facilitated for the benefit of the people and the greater goal of economic prosperity of both countries, Pakistan’s Commerce Secretary Zafar Mehmood has said.
Mehmood and Indian Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar met in Islamabad on Wednesday to start the 5th round of Indo-Pak Commerce Secretary-level talks to further bilateral trade and economic relations through the composite dialogue process.
“The private sector is an engine of economic growth and we are talking about boosting trade relations through this sector,” The News quoted Mehmood, as telling journalists after participating in the talks.
“We want to provide a policy framework for trade facilitation between the two countries’ private sectors,” he added.Mehmood said that talks were moving forward in a positive and friendly atmosphere and without any hesitations, adding that the issue of the removal of non-tariff barriers between the two countries had also came under discussion during the meeting.
Talking about the volume of Indo-Pak bilateral trade, he said that current figures of Pakistan’s export and import with India stood at 300 million dollars and 1.3 billion dollars respectively. Khullar arrived in Islamabad along with a six-member delegation on April 26 to hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart on trade-related issues.
In his opening remarks, Mehmood welcomed the Indian delegation and said that both sides were open for talks on issues of mutual interest, adding that four rounds of talks were held between the two countries under the composite dialogue process between 2004 and 2007, but talks could not be held since 2007 due to various reasons, however the initiative was now being restarted.He expressed the hope that this 5th round of talks between India and Pakistan would help boost trade and economic relations and lead to peace in the region.
“We are determined to make the 5th round of talks successful and fruitful,” Mehmood said.In his remarks, the visiting Indian Commerce Secretary thanked the Pakistan Government for its hospitality.
“We are here for talks to boost our mutual trade and economic relations”, he remarked, adding, “Pakistan and India can resolve their issues through the process of dialogue and we are here in that spirit.” (ANI)
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Tags: bilateral trade, billion dollars, commerce secretary, composite dialogue, economic prosperity, economic relations, india and pakistan, indian commerce, indian delegation, islamabad, member delegation, mutual interest, opening remarks, policy framework, private sectors, rahul, roun, s commerce, tariff barriers, trade facilitation