FPCCI president stresses enhancing Pak-Egypt bilateral economic ties, trade relations

Newspaper Title: http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/

Newspaper Number:

Sunday - 15 November 2015

Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry President (FPCCI) Mian Muhammad Idrees on Saturday stressed the need for enhancing bilateral economic ties and trade relations between brotherly Islamic countries, Pakistan and Egypt.

Idrees headed the FPCCI high profile trade delegation which attended the 22nd meeting of the Board of Directors (BoD) of Islamic Chamber at Cairo. Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC) Chairman Ahmed El Wakil warmly welcomed the delegates from Pakistan as the Pakistani Embassy in Egypt showed provided support and coordination for the delegation.

The meeting discussed the agenda related to the transforming Food Trade Exchange Forum into an annual regular forum along with the enhancement of Halal Food programme and activities. Promotion of textile and garment Industry and the tourism industry will also be strategically planned in some of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries. The inaugural meeting of Pakistan – Egypt Joint Business Council (JBC) was also held which was overdue as per the MoU signed on December 15, 2006 between Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC).

The meeting was attended by the members of the joint business councils from the two countries. Zubair Tufail was elected Co-Chairman of the Joint Business Council from Pakistan.

FPCCI President Mian Muhammad Idrees discussed the existing bilateral trade and economic relations and strategies to enhance the trade volume between Egypt and Pakistan such as holding of Single Country Exhibitions in Egypt and Pakistan on reciprocal basis. Both countries agreed to remove the bottlenecks and roadblocks hampering bilateral trade between the two countries. The FPCCI president also had a meeting with the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and discussed removing trade hurdles between the two countries.

The presidents of 35 Chambers of Commerce also attend the meeting.

FPCCI president further emphasized that it was important to have an efficient system for issuance of visas, as it was an important element in fostering bilateral economic and trade ties. He said tha regulations should not be a cause for inflexibilities. Rather, procedures need to be assessed and continuously modified to accommodate legitimate needs of both sides for all visa purposes.

FEDCOC Chairman Ahmed El Wakil assured the Pakistani delegates that a high profile trade delegation would visit Pakistan soon to intensify economic ties in public and private sectors.

A Cooperation Agreement between the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Handicraft of Niger and FPCCI was also signed.