Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) organized a Belgian Companies’ Catalogues Exhibition in collaboration with the Economic & Commercial Representation Embassy of Belgium in Islamabad in its efforts to promote bilateral trade between business communities of Pakistan and Belgium.
The Belgian Business Contact Day consisted of a presentation of the existing trade and the future commercial opportunities between the two countries. During the Belgian Companies’ Catalogues Exhibition at the ICCI more than a hundred Belgian companies’ catalogues and trade directories were put on display for consultation by the ICCI members. The Economic & Commercial Representation team was also be present at an Info Desk during the whole day to register and respond to inquiries from ICCI members who might want to explore new business opportunities with Belgian companies.
During the inaugural session of the Expo, Ambassador of Belgium in Islamabad H.E. Mr.Peter Claes said that Pakistan is the most hospitable nation in the world as well as its a business conducive country as a number of Belgian companies were operating in Pakistan and contributing positively towards the development of Pakistan’s economy.
He said that there are good prospects for undertaking joint ventures in Pakistan with the help of Belgian experience and technical know how in a number of fields. He said that the growing importance of Belgian in the wake of its central position and location in the European Union calls for more integrated efforts focusing on exchange of trade delegations, institutional contacts between the Chambers of Commerce and participation in international trade fair.
Briefing about bilateral trade, he said that current volume of trade between Pakistan and Belgium stood around $800million which was quiet impressive, however, there is a need to bolster the exciting volume of trade up to the desired level of $1 billion. Mr.Peter also assured his full cooperation to the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry for strengthening the existing business relations between the two countries.
In his welcome note, Mr.Zafar Bakhtawari, President of ICCI appreciated the role of Belgium for supporting Pakistan about granting the GSP plus status to Pakistan and said that said that ICCI is a keen supporter of strengthening economic relations with EU countries especially Belgium.
He said that Belgian expertise in engineering, automobile sector, chemicals industry, electrical and electronic sector is well known around the globe while Pakistan exported textiles products, cotton, articles of leather and sport goods to Belgium, therefore this was the right time to focus on non-traditional products and frequent exchange of business delegations to accelerate trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Belgium.
Mr.Bakhtawari emphasized on changing the negative perception about Pakistan and urged the Ambassador to invite more Belgian Companies to invest in Pakistan, especially in the energy sector and textiles. He cited the example of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce & Industry which had played dynamic role for turning around the Turkish economy, similarly, ICCI is well aware of its role to boost the economy of Pakistan and bring political stability in the country.
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