Efforts to be stepped up to realise potential:
Sri Lanka, Pakistan target $2 billion in trade by 2015
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari
have called for enhancing bilateral trade, targeting US$ 2 billion by
2015 from the current US$ 375 million. Pakistan is the second largest
trade partner of Sri Lanka.
During extensive discussions, the two leaders called to step up
efforts to fully realise the potential of the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Free
Trade Agreement and build a mutually beneficial economic and trade
partnership.
The setting up of a direct shipping service for enhancing trade
between the two countries was also proposed during the talks.
President Rajapaksa is on a three-day State visit to Pakistan.
The Pakistan President has called for further exploration of the
currency-swap agreement with Sri Lanka, which he said, would provide
huge incentives to business houses in both countries to actively explore
and enhance business linkages.
Matters regarding bilateral relations, mutual cooperation with
special reference to trade and commercial ties and regional and
international issues were discussed during the meeting.
The two leaders stressed the importance of enhancing defence and
security cooperation. According to Pakistan media reports, Islamabad
assured Colombo of its continued assistance in the field of defence and
security in a clear sign that the two countries were ready to take their
relationship to new heights.
The Pakistan President, recalling his previous visit to Colombo in
November 2010, said the two countries had always enjoyed special bonds
of affinity. He said that the relations had also been marked by a
measure of consistency and commonality of views on important regional
and global issues and added that the two countries had stood together
and supported each other in all important matters concerning the two
countries.
President Rajapaksa thanked Pakistan for its unwavering support to
eliminate terrorism in Sri Lanka.
He said his country attached great importance to its strategic and
special relations with Pakistan and hoped to strengthen trade and
commercial ties.
The two leaders also called upon the business community and Chambers
of Commerce of the two countries to fully avail the huge trade and
business potential the two countries offered in diverse fields,
including finance and banking sectors, science and technology, defence,
agriculture, tourism, gems and jewellery.
President Zardari commended the Sri Lankan Government for the
important contribution in assisting Pakistan to cope with the outbreak
of dengue fever last year.Pakistan and Sri Lanka are due to sign an
agreement during President Rajapaksa’s visit under which Sri Lanka would
receive US$ 200 million export credit facility through the State Bank of
Pakistan. President Rajapaksa was also due to visit the Buddhist
heritage site in Taxila.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Interior Minister Rehman
Malik, Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh,
Secretary General to the President Salman Faruqui, Saleem H Mandviwala,
Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, Special Secretary Major Haroon Rashid,
Pakistani Ambassador to Sri Lanka Seema Ilahi Baloch, and other senior
officials were also present. President Rajapaksa was assisted by
External Affairs Minister Prof GL Peiris, Deputy Minister Duminda
Dissanayake, Monitoring MP Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, Secretary to the
President Lalith Weeratunga, Ministry of External Affairs Secretary
Karunatilaka Amunugama and Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in Pakistan
Jayalath Weerakkody.
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