Pakistan, India have tremendous trade opportunities: Gautam

Rawalpindi

Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawala has said that there are tremendous opportunities to improve the trade relations between the two countries.

He stated this during a visit to the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI). First Secretary S. Raghuran, RCCI President Mian Humayun Parvez, Senior vice president Saqib Rafiq, Vice President Muhammad Aqil Obaid, former senior vice president Raja Amer Iqbal, secretary general Irfan Manan, members of the executive committee and a large number of traders and industrialists were also present on the occasion.

In his address Indian high commissioner said, “This is his first visit to Rawalpindi and I am very happy for the warm welcome received here and wherever I visit in Pakistan I always received love and warm welcome.”

He said there are tremendous opportunities to improve the trade relations between the two countries. To improve these ties, visa facility is being made easy and maximum facilities are being provided to traders. “For frequent visitors and big traders are been offered 3 year multiple visa and others are getting 2 year and one year multiple visa based on grading,” he added.

Indian ambassador said the trade volume between the two countries is very low and this has to be enhanced. Two countries should move forward and peace process can be flourished through economic corridor. India is a big market and like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka Pakistan can get benefit from it.

He further said that the business community wants an ease in political relations between the two countries as it is in favour of the masses of the both countries. Prices of necessary goods can be reduced once the trade volume increased. This will ultimately help the common man.

He referred to China-India relations, and said that in 2000 the trade volume between India and China was just 1 billion dollar and now it reached to 75 billion dollar, we should take this as an example. He appreciated the different suggestions provided by traders, like drop box facility, police reporting and age relaxation of aged person from 65 to 60.