Pakistan’s High Commissioner urges enhanced bilateral trade with SL

The High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka Maj. Gen. Qasim Qureshi visited Galle District of the Southern Province of Sri Lanka recently.

During the visit to Galle, the High Commissioner participated in a meeting with the officials of the Galle District Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The meeting reviewed the prevailing business environment between the two friendly countries. While speaking on the occasion Qasim Qureshi emphasised the need to explore ways and means to further enhance business connectivity and the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries.

The High Commissioner noted that the two countries have put in place an overarching economic framework to facilitate businessmen of both countries to set up and strengthen commercial and investment ventures. “The hallmark of this framework is the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which has been operational since 2005,” he added. He further stated that Pakistan and Sri Lanka also have a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) and MoU on Customs Co-operation.

Qasim Qureshi highlighted that Pakistan offers extremely attractive opportunities to the Sri Lankan traders and consumers to benefit from abundant raw materials, available at competitive prices and low freight costs.

He explained that Pakistan produces various varieties of rice, vegetables and fruits, which if imported from Pakistan to Sri Lanka, can considerably reduce the inflation in food items, at the same time providing a wide choice of consumables.

Later in the day the High Commissioner also met the Southern Province Governor Kumari Balasuriya, Southern Naval Commander Rear Admiral Piyal Harischandra De Silva (P.H. De Silva) and Galle District Head of Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) Mustafa Mohammad Awn.