ISLAMABAD: A 35-member business delegation of Bangladesh headed by President, Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Mir Nasir Hossain, called on the Federal Minister for Textile Industry, Mushtaq Ali Cheema here on Monday.
During the meeting, both sides discussed a wide range of issues to promote bilateral trade between the two countries. Secretary Ministry of Textile Industry, Syed Masood Alam Rizvi and Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Pakistan, Abdul Hanan were also present.
Welcoming the delegation, the Minister said that Bangladesh was a brotherly Islamic country and there was an enormous potential to enhance the bilateral trade between the two countries particularly in textile and pharmaceutical sectors.
He appreciated Bangladesh's performance in textile and pharmaceutical sectors and said that Pakistan could co-operate with the Bangladesh in light engineering and textile sector. "Pakistan is a manufacturer of quality power looms, their spare parts. It could supply them at very competitive rates", Cheema added.
The Minister said, "We could assist Bangladesh (BD) in finished fabric goods as it has invested 5 billion dollars in this sector."
He urged to promote regional trade among the Saarc countries by foregoing the political issues and offered every assistance to the delegation for the promotion of bilateral trade.
Later, leader of Bangladesh business delegation, Mir Nasir Hossain said that Bangladesh had performed well in garment/apparel sector and last year it exported ready made garments worth 6.4 billion, which was a 75 percent of total exports of Bangladesh.
He said, "Bangladesh has established 7 export processing zones which are running very successfully with Korean, Chinese and Japanese investment.
He said that there was an enormous potential to enhance bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
However, he pointed out that grant of visa of Pakistan to the Bangladesh industrialists should be eased and facilitated.
