ISLAMABAD: The Economic and Commercial Attaché of Spain Miguel Pena Sánchez said that Pakistan’s economy was improving despite some imbalances like current account deficit. He said that he is considering bringing a business mission to Spain to Pakistan for B2B meetings with Pakistani counterparts. He said this while exchanging views with the local business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He said that both countries should focus on developing long-term plans to explore all potential areas of mutual cooperation for the further improvement of bilateral trade.
He said that Pakistan was mostly depending on textiles for exports and it should focus on diversifying exports to further improve trade with Spain and European countries. He said that political stability was important in order to attract Spanish investment in Pakistan. He stressed that Pakistan should improve its infrastructure to promote cooperation in tourism with Spain. He said there was a need to create proper channels for enhancing connectivity between private sectors of both countries and assured that he would work with Pakistani chambers of commerce to explore new areas of bilateral cooperation between Spain and Pakistan.
Speaking at the occasion, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Sheikh Amir Waheed said that Pakistan and Spain enjoyed cordial political relations which should be transformed into growing trade and economic relations for achieving better results. He said that frequent exchange of trade delegations and promoting direct contacts between private sectors of Pakistan and Spain was necessary to raise awareness about potential areas of mutual cooperation between the two countries.
He said that many special economic zones would be set up under CPEC in Pakistan and Spanish investors should explore opportunities for joint ventures and investment in these zones. He said that Pakistani leather products, surgical instruments, sports goods, fruits and many other products could find a good market in Spain and it should enhance its imports from Pakistan. He said Pakistan has great reserves of natural resources including marble, granite, minerals and Spanish technology & machinery could help in producing value-added products. He said Spanish olive oil and its by-products also have a great demand in Pakistan.
ICCI Senior Vice President Muhammad Naveed said that both countries have good potential to enhance cooperation between their SMEs. He said law & order situation has greatly improved in Pakistan and Spanish investors should visit Pakistan for exploring business prospects while ICCI would fully cooperate in connecting them with right counterparts.
