RAWALPINDI: Azerbaijan Ambassador Ali Alizada – accompanied by a delegation of 20 Azeri companies – paid a visit to the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) here on Thursday.
Addressing the traders at the chamber, the ambassador discussed ways and means to explore business collaborations, exchange of delegations and trade information. He said that Azerbaijan has a great attachment with Pakistan and both countries are enjoying cordial relationship.
He lauded the RCCI efforts for boosting trade activities and connectivity through extensive reach outs. He said the purpose of bringing trade delegation is to explore Pakistani market, business to business meetings (B2B) and explore opportunities of business collaborations in agriculture, textile and other fields. Pakistan is a big market and we want to tap the growing opportunities, he added.
He stressed that Pakistani businessmen should explore investment opportunities in his country. RCCI President Raja Amer Iqbal in his welcome address said that Pakistan and Azerbaijan are enjoying good political and trade relations, however the bilateral trade volume is not convincing. A $60 million bilateral trade volume is not enough keeping the size of the economy of both countries, he added.
RCCI president said that Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city of Pakistan and there are tremendous opportunities of bilateral trade cooperation in sectors like pharmaceutical, poultry, marble, furniture and textile. He apprised the envoy on the current and upcoming events of RCCI and invited him for upcoming Rawal expo 2017. The trade delegation was representing various sectors including food processing, farming, trade, packaging and paper industry, production of fruits & vegetables, milk and dairy products, furniture, cosmetics, cotton and other sectors.
In the end a memento was presented to the ambassador. Deputy Head of mission Chingiz Garibli, Vice Chairman Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation Yousif Abdullah, Senior vice president Rashid Waien, Vice president Asim Malik, member national assembly Asfandyar Bhindara, Major General retired Inam ul Haq, member of the executive committee and a large number of traders were also present on the occasion.
