Sri Lankan companies to invest in Pakistan’s energy, construction and resort development sectors
View(s):Pakistan and Sri Lanka are important partners not only in promoting bilateral trade and economic interactions but also enhancing regional economic integration through SAARC and SAFTA, Pakistan High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Syed Shakeel Hssain has said.
Pakistan High Commissioner speaking at the event
Addressing the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Trade and Investment Forum organised by the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Business Council of Karachi, in Colombo on Monday, he said the Government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attaches great importance to regional economic integration through revitalisation of SAARC which epitomises the hopes and aspirations of the peoples of this region, for peace, progress and prosperity.
In comments released to the media by the high commission, the High Commissioner was quoted as saying that despite availability of tariff concessions on more than 4000 tariff lines on both sides, bilateral trade is still taking place on a very narrow band of products with very little diversification.
He urged the private sectors of the two countries to forge deeper links by becoming part of bilateral supply chains and invited Sri Lankan companies to invest in Pakistan’s energy, construction and resort development sectors.
The Sri Lanka-Pakistan Trade and Investment Forum was also addressed by Upul Jayasuriya, Chairman Board of Investment Sri Lanka; Ms. Sonali Wijeratne, Director General Commerce; and Rohitha Thilakaratne, Presidents of Sri Lanka-Pakistan Business Council Colombo and Mr. Imran Khalil from Karachi chapters, amongst others.
A 20-member business delegation from Pakistan led by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry visited Sri Lanka to participate in the forum and meet the Lankan business community.
The delegation included representatives from different sectors like textiles, basmati rice, engineering goods, fruits, food stuff, mineral products, debt and equity, machinery equipment, cotton yarn, woven fabric iron, steel, pharmaceutical products, rags, carpets industry, shoes, leather products, denim fabric and garments, leather garments, electronics and surgical items, petroleum, sugar, cement and automobile industry.