KP traders urge govt to establish more missions in African countries

PESHAWAR: The traders and business community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have urged the government to set up more missions in the African countries.

They also informed the African diplomats that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had a huge potential to export vast variety of competitive and quality items including pharmaceutical products, furniture, fruits, safety matches, footwear, tobacco, carpets, marble, granite, livestock, granite and chip boards, etc.

In a bid to bring the African region close to the province in terms of trade and commerce, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) organised a ‘Look Africa Forum’ in collaboration with the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). The forum, which was attended by diplomats, consular from Kenya, Kingdom of Morocco, Somalia, Mauritius and Sudan, was held at the Chamber House here on Tuesday.

The forum was addressed by Prof. Julius Kibet Bitok, high commissioner of Kenya, Muhammad Karmoune, ambassador Kingdom of Morocco, Tageldin Elhadi Eltahir, ambassador of Sudan, Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, ambassador of Somalia, Rashid Ally Soobadar, high commissioner of Mauritius, Yousaf Illahi, high commissioner, Filmona Wam Bulva, commercial consular, Kenya high commission and Nadra Jen Chedumbarum, deputy high commissioner, Mauritius.

Zahidullah Shinwari, president SCCI, while speaking at the forum urged the government to not only increase foreign missions in African countries but also depute commercial consular on merit with target-based tasks to trade with African countries.

Existing 13 Joint Ministerial Commissions (JMCs) are insufficient to represent Pakistan in the African continent, he added.

Shinwari also touched upon the dismal 0.28 percnet exports with just $1.3 billion as compared to African imports of $471 billion. He urged the TDAP, Ministry of Commerce and Textile to adopt business-friendly measures of sponsoring trade delegation to African trade fairs and exhibitions for exploring potential and virgin markets.

The SCCI chief informed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was capable of exporting pharmaceutical products, honey, furniture, fresh and dry fruits, safety matches, footwear, tobacco, carpets, marble, granite, hunting arms, precious and semi-precious stones, livestock, jaggery, granite and chip boards. The two regions cold also promote tourism both in Africa and Pakistan, particularly amid prevailing hard visa regimes in developed countries, he maintained.

Shinwari suggested formation of Pak-Africa Joint Chamber of Commerce (PACCI) and regional chambers for exploration of opportunities and boosting trade.

The local traders also urged the TDAP on the occasion to facilitate the holding ‘Look Pakistan’ forums in Africa so that awareness about Pakistan could be created in Africa.

African diplomats offered full cooperation to promote trade and commerce between Pakistan and Africa.

Miss Maria Kazi, joint secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Textile also assured cooperation of the business community and African diplomats to increase engagements for economic cooperation.