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Lahore, March 04, 2016 (PPI-OT): Iran is in high demand of textiles, meat and dairy and livestock based products therefore Pakistanis dealing in these sectors must avail this unmatched business opportunity. This was revealed by the LCCI Senior Vice President Almas Hyder on his return from a six-day Iran visit. He took a 26-member delegation to Iran who visited Tehran, Sheraz, Mashhad Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Qom Free Zone and Industries located in TUS Industrial Estate, Mashhad apart from having B-2-B meetings with their Iranian counterparts and high government officials.
The delegation received very warm reception in Iran. On the arrival of Tehran Airport, the delegation was received by the Staff of Commercial Section of Pakistan Embassy. Almas Hyder said that Iran has a higher requirement of our textile products including T-Shirts, Denim Jeans and Home Textiles. There is a need to form a textile delegation comprising leading companies, as soon as possible. He said that there is also a great demand for meat therefore Pakistani meat exporters should avail this opportunity.
“The Iranian side wanted that the agreed gas pipelines between Pakistan and Iran should be connected soon. The Iranian power companies can provide 5000 megawatt electricity to Pakistan which roughly cost US$ 1.5 billion to connect electricity to eliminate load shedding from Pakistan”, the LCCI Senior Vice President added.
He said that at the moment, we have very limited air connection with Iran. There is a dire need of more flights between Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Tehran, Shiraz, Mashhad and Isfahan. We need assistance from the airlines of both the countries to build the air connection and their frequency to enable businessmen to travel. He said that road and rail Links are also needed to be improved with the neighbouring countries.
He said that direct shipping between Iran and Pakistan will also help boost the mutual trade. He said that as announced by the President, Islamic Republic of Iran that they wanted to enhance their trade with Pakistan upto US$ 5 billion. In this regard, necessary steps should be taken by the Pakistani side.
He informed the Iranian counterparts that Punjab Government had offered scholarships to Iranian students to study in engineering and medical in Pakistan. He said that these scholarships should be increased upto 100 and students of business management should also be included.
Almas Hyder said that banking channels between Pakistan and Iran should be started immediately to overcome the smuggling issues faced by both the countries. He said that Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between two countries should be signed and Industrial cities on Pakistan-Iran borders may be set up to stop the smuggling. He said that long term multiple entry visas should be issued to businessmen of both the countries for the promotion of bilateral trade. He also urged the government to arrange a high-powered delegation for Iran.
Almas Hyder said that it is a proven fact that the economic prosperity lies in integration with neighbouring countries. Pakistan is eagerly looking forward to expanding trade relations with Iran as there is a vast scope for trade boosting between the two countries. Iranian businessmen are keen to work hand in hand with their Pakistani counterparts therefore Pakistani businessmen should avail this opportunity to the maximum. Joint ventures between Pakistani and Iranian businessmen are the only way to explore the huge opportunities generated after lifting of sanctions from Iran.
“I have urged the Iranian trade planners to show the same foresight, as being shown by the Pakistan, to ensure greater role to be played by Iran particularly in regional trade”, Almas Hyder said. He said that Pakistan and Iran not only have common border but also share a glorious history. Pakistan and Iran have close cultural affiliations and both have remained steady trading partners as well but in recent years, the momentum of trade has been seriously affected.
Almas Hyder said that both countries need to find ways to increase the volume of two way trade. We are already exporting meat to Iran. Dairy sector can be another area to be explored for this purpose. The potential of two way trade between Pakistan and Iran is estimated to be over US$ 2 billion but it can only be materialized by making all out efforts. Governments and respective private sectors of the both countries should collaborate with each other on regular basis.
It is pertinent to mention here that the LCCI Senior Vice President Almas Hyder was leading the delegation while other members were Kamal Mahmood Amjad Mian, Tariq Mahmood, Muhammad Ibrahim, Hasnain Reza Mirza, Ariful Islam, Khurram Hussain, Mushtaq Ali Khan, Shahid Mahmood, Fazal-ur-Rehman, Tanveer Karamat, Muhammad Usman Sheikh, Shafiq Ahmad Abbasi, Muhammad Tahir Iqbal, Mohammed Idrees, Moazzam Rasheed, Muhammad Akram Sheikh, Mujahid Ali Sheikh, Ahsan Tariq, Jahanzeb Aziz Khan Sherwani, Naveed Hussain, Rana Muhammad Shakil, Ghulam Nabi and Hassan Raza.
For more information, contact:
Shahid Khalil
Information Department
Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)
11-Shahrah-e-Aiwan-e-Tijarat,
Lahore -54000, Pakistan
Tel: +92-42-111-222-499
Fax: +92-42-36368854
Website: www.lcci.org.pk