Pakistani trade delegation here

A Pakistani trade delegation of fruit and vegetable producers and exporters is visiting Sri Lanka to explore the ways and means to enhance bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

The participants of the delegation specialise in production and export of various fruits and vegetables including guava, mango, citrus, berry, potato, dry fruits, and fresh and dry dates. Faqir Nusrat Hussain is leading the six-member delegation.Eager to reap the maximum benefits from the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the delegation would explore the opportunities in the tea sector.

The delegation would visit Kandy to interact with the local Chamber of Commerce, Tea Research Board and to visit tea factories and spice gardens.

The delegation will hold meetings with Sri Lankan fruit and dry fruit importers as well as other stakeholders to explore the possibilities of enhancing bilateral trade.

The meetings would offer an opportunity to local businessmen to gain awareness and knowledge about the prospects for expansion of the two-way trade between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the fruit and vegetable sector.

Sri Lanka was the first country to sign an FTA with Pakistan.

Following the FTA's coming into operation in June 2005, bilateral trade between the countries has been strengthened.

Pakistan has now become the second largest trade partner for Sri Lanka in the South Asian region.

Pakistan exports fish, meat, vegetables, foliage, plants, sugar, biscuits, pastry, cakes, mineral products, fibre boards, leather and leather-based products, footwear, gems, jewellery, value-added copper products, electrical items, bicycles, boats and floating structures.

There was a great demand for Pakistani produce such as cotton yarn, fabrics, potatoes, pharmaceutical products, knitted or crocheted fabrics, articles of iron and steel, galvanised pipes, rice, fish, seafood, textile articles, apparel and clothing accessories and rods of refined copper.

Under the FTA, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have agreed to offer preferential market access to each other's exports by way of granting tariff concessions. Sri Lanka is enabled to enjoy duty free market access on 206 products in the Pakistani market, while Pakistan gained duty free access on 102 products in the Sri Lankan market.