Strengthening bilateral relations through exhibitions: Pakistani ambssador

Bilateral relations would be strengthened and intra regional trade will be enhanced through exhibitions, said Pakistani Ambassador to Nepal Syed Abrar Hussain in an interview with Xinhua on Saturday.

Made in Pakistan Products Exhibition 2010 is taking place in the Nepali capital Kathmandu on May 19-23, 2010, where various kind of Pakistani products, handmade items are being exhibited in 60 stalls by more than 80 business delegates.

In the interview, Ambassador Hussain said that the South Asian Region has very much less intra-regional trade which is less than 5 percent compared to other regions of the world.

He added that there is a need to make efforts to increase the bilateral business ties between the countries to increase the intra country trade relations.

"The program of this kind will contribute toward building economic barriers and provide a forum for the two countries to establish trade," Hussain said.

"This kind of event is very much helpful because different businessmen can showcase their products at a single place which will increase the relations among the businessmen and also the local consumers," he added.

He said that Pakistan does not shares border with Nepal directly and there is no land route the only means is air transportation which has become a barrier in the trade promotions.

However, we can definitely decrease the trade barriers by applying some other measures, he said.

He noted that the exhibition itself will definitely help in promoting trade for businessmen can interact with each other and explore their business.

Secondly, he said that the rules of South Asian Free Trade Area agreement should be implemented and there should be reduction of taxes levied and reduction of the air fare.

He also said that the third country which comes in between the two countries should be helpful. He requested the Nepali business community to organize similar exhibition in Pakistan as well, and promote Nepali goods amongst the Pakistani people.

He lauded the effort made by the Nepali Embassy in Pakistan to make this exhibition a success. "When business men from two sides meet and sit together they can generate new ideas for trade and business which will create a strong economic bond," he added.

As of Saturday, more than 7,500 people visited the exhibition.

"I am glad to see that Nepali people from all walks of life visited the exhibition which were higher than the expectation," he said.

The exhibition is jointly organized by Pakistan Trade Expo Center in association with the Pakistani Embassy in Nepal to mark the golden jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Nepal and Pakistan.

The five-day exhibition will end on Sunday.

Source:Xinhua