The
Pakistan Commission London organized a business networking reception at its
premises on 22 September 2017, where an MoU was signed between the Federation
of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Pakistan Britain
Business Council (PBBC) for enhancing business and trade ties, says a press
release received from London here today.
The event
was attended by CEOs and Directors of leading Pakistani and British companies,
with representation from FPCCI, PBBC, London Chamber,
Mayor of London office, London Stock Exchange, Standard Chartered, Marks &
Spencer, Debenhams, UK Department of International Trade (DIT), UBL and HBL.
Newly appointed UK's Trade Envoy for Pakistan Mr. Rehman Chishti,
MP also attended the event.
A high
powered delegation of the FPCCI, led by its Vice President Mirza Ishtiaq Baig,
is currently visiting various cities of the UK and meeting with local
businesses. The Commercial Wing of the High Commission is liaising the
business meetings for the visiting delegation.
The
delegates were of the view that Pakistan offers huge business opportunities and
was open for business. It
was also noted that such networking events aimed at forging business to
business ties are significant in correcting the perception of the
country.
In his
welcome remarks, H.E. Syed Ibne Abbas Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK said
that Pakistan is a natural destination for the UK business companies, and add
that this interest is also reflected in a stream of high level visits of the UK
leadership to Pakistan. He also emphasized that there were tremendous economic
opportunities for UK businesses in Pakistan after Brexit and in the wake of
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The High Commissioner said that
Pakistan is moving forward and projections about Pakistan economy by the
independent financial institutions is a testimony of country’s upward economic
trajectory. He also
welcomed the sighing of MoU between FPCCI & PBBC and hoped that it would
open new vistas of cooperation and relationship between two organizations.
Mirza
Ishtiaq Baig, Vice President FPCCI, expressed his desire to work closely with
Pakistan High Commission London. He offered the services of FPCCI in forging
ties between businesses of the two countries.
Mr.
Rehman Chishti MP, in his address, mentioned that UK has a unique relationship
with Pakistan. The
business and trade ties add very important dimension to our relationships,
added the MP. He termed Pakistan a key trading partner and said that
implementation on CPEC projects would bring the business communities of the two
countries even closer.
Julian
Hamilton Barns, Chairman Pakistan British Council, said that Pakistan is open
for business and such collaboration as manifested in signing of MoU would
further augment cooperation between the businesses of two countries. He said
that Pakistan is facing issues of perception which could be corrected through
business to business and people to people contacts.
Mr. Imran
Khalili, Chairman Pak UK Business Council of FPCCI also shared his perspective
on profitable business opportunities in Pakistan.
A number of important sectors of economy were represented at the
networking event, including textile, energy, chemicals, financial services,
real estate, entertainment, tourism and surgical equipment.
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