Sunday Times 2
Pakistan’s Commerce Minister to arrive in Sri Lanka on November 10
View(s):The Federal Commerce Minister of Pakistan Khurram Dastgir Khan is arriving in Sri Lanka on a three-day official visit to boost bilateral investment and trade between the two friendly countries. He would be accompanied by a high powered business delegation consisting of cement, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, sugar, shipping, construction and manufacturing sector companies.
Federal Commerce Minister of Pakistan Khurram Dastgir Khan
The visit of Commerce Minister is planned, in furtherance to the understanding reached between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, to take the bilateral trade and investment to new heights, during latter’s visit to Islamabad in April 2015.
During his stay in Sri Lanka, Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan is scheduled to meet Sri Lankan President H.E. Maithripala Sirisena as well as Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The Minister will also call on Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Public Administration and Management Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Megapolis and Western Development Minister Champika Ranawaka during the visit.
The visiting minister will also participate in the first official high level Business Interaction Forum between the two countries organized by the Export Development Board of Sri Lanka. The Pakistan Sri Lanka Business Interaction Forum is planned to be held in Colombo on November 11, with the participation of prominent business representatives of both sides.
Pakistan is the second largest trading partner of Sri Lanka in the SAARC region where as Sri Lanka is the first country to sign free trade agreement (FTA) with Pakistan in July 2002 with its operationalisation in June, 2005.