SIALKOT: Ms. Belinda Lewis British Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi has said that the UK will continue to support the Pakistani businessmen, besides, assuring full cooperation and technical assistance for establishing the strong bilateral trade relations between UK and Pakistan.
She stated this while addressing an important meeting of the Sialkot exporters held at Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Senior trade officials of the British High Commission, SCCI President Majid Raza Bhutta, Dr. Mariyam Nouman (Chairperson SCCI’s Departmental Committee on Women Entrepreneurs) and Muhammad Ejaz Ghauri (SVC Pakistan Sports Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association-PSGMEA) also attended the meeting
Ms. Belinda Lewis said that the British investors and businessmen were taking keen interest in investing in Pakistan, as the UK was also intending to develop the strong bilateral trade relations with Pakistan, besides, bringing to bring the businessmen from both side closer.
Ms. Belinda Lewis (British Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi-Pakistan) added that the UK was also making sincere efforts to ensure the easy access of Pakistani businessmen to the international trade markets of the UK.
She said that Pakistan should get the full advantages of its GSP Plus Status, as the time was ripe for Pakistan, in this regard.
Replying to a question raised by a leading exporter Mian Muhammad Anwar (former SCCI SVP), the British Deputy HC said that the UK businessmen need to have a sincere understanding about the security concerns in Pakistan with the help of the local business partners in Pakistan, saying that the British business people should be realistic about the security concerns in Pakistan.
She said that the British Business Center (BBC), already established at Lahore-Pakistan, could help to further strengthen the mutual trade ties between the businessmen of Sialkot-Pakistan and UK as well.
Ms. Belinda Lewis also stressed the need of promotion of strong and cordial mutual and bilateral trade relations with Pakistan.
On this occasion, the SCCI President Majid Raza Bhutta gave a detailed briefing about the achievements, targets, future goals of the Sialkot exporters and Sialkot’s socio-economic and human development made by the Sialkot exporters on self help basis.
SCCI President added that there was a huge scope for establishing joint ventures and business cooperation between Pakistan and UK based companies especially in the field of Sports Goods, Surgical Instruments, Leather Products and Information Technology.
He stressed the need to strengthen trade and business linkages between Pakistan and UK for enhancing bilateral trade.
Earlier, Ms. Belinda Lewis (British Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi-Pakistan) showed very keen interest in the Sialkot-made sports goods, while witnessing their manufacturing and production processes during her visit to a leading industrial unit in Sialkot, amid tight security here today.
She also witnessed the craftsmanship of the Sialkot based artisans and they termed it an international standard craftsmanship. She revealed that the Sialkot exporters were much dedicated and enthusiastic as well.