Pakistan Commerce Minister Khan coming
- Pakistan-Lanka trade at $353 Mn
- โLooking to jointly explore bigger tradeโ-Rishad
As historic trade partners Sri Lanka and Pakistan positioned for a $1 Bn trade volume, Pakistani Commerce Minister is now scheduled to arrive in Colombo to take the process forward-and the first Business Interaction Forum between both countries is to be held next week in Colombo. โWe extend a warm welcome to Minister Khurram. We believe that there is great unrealised trade potential that we could jointly exploreโ said Rishad Bathiudeen (Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka) on 04 November in Colombo.
Minister Bathiudeen was addressing his top officials during his discussions with them on 04 November on the forthcoming visit of Pakistani Minister of Commerce Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan to Colombo. Minister Khanโs visit on 10-11 November, facilitated by Minister Bathiudeenโs Department of Commerce, is expected drive current bilateral trade to new levels.
โWe extend a warm welcome to Minister Khurramโ said Minister Bathiudeen, and added: โThere has been continued trade growth between both countries-still, we believe that there is great unrealised trade potential that we could jointly explore. We are facilitating several high level curtesy calls for Minister Khurram. A highlight of this visit will be the first ever Business Interaction Forum to be held with the participation of business representatives of both sides.โ
In 2014, bilateral trade between both countries stood at $ 353 Mn. In January 2014, when the then (H.E) Pakistan High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Major Genenral Qasim Qureshi called on Minister Bathiudeen at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, he stressed: โWhat we want to do is to expand bilateral trade from the present levels to $ One billion, in the coming years.โ
Pakistan is the second largest trading partner of Sri Lanka in the SAARC region after India. The Balance of trade is in favour of Pakistan.
Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress