Trade between Pakistan and Iran has marked $3 billion on its way to what now seems like an achievable $10 billion target through mutual efforts and people-to-people linkages.
The remarks were made during a meeting between Pakistan’s Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, who is currently leading a delegation to Tehran, and Iranian Minister of Industry Mine and Trade Seyyed Muhammad Atabak.
Offering condolences and sympathies to the flood-hit families who lost their loved ones, the Iranian minister said, “Since the visit of President Dr Pezeshkian to Pakistan, our bilateral trade has improved a lot. Our trade target of $10 billion is achievable through mutual efforts and enhanced people-to-people contacts.”
Both the ministers stressed the need for promoting barter trade, signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and activating border markets, which were termed very crucial for deepening ties.
Referring to the visit of Dr Pezeshkian to Pakistan, Jam Kamal emphasised that it was a testimony to the government of Tehran’s trust in Islamabad. “Consistent visits on both sides show our progressive approach to achieve the trade target,” he said.
“Our trade figures have reached $3 billion, which is very heartening,” Jam Kamal said, adding that the meeting of the Joint Economic Commission would find a way to remove impediments and further facilitate trade activities.
The Iranian delegation comprised Head of the Trade Promotion Organisation Dehghan Dehnavi, Director General of the Trade Promotion Organisation’s East Asia Office Abdol-Sadeh Neisi among other top officials.
Commerce Minister Jam Kamal and Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh on Monday formally inaugurated the 22nd Meeting of the Joint Economic Commission in Tehran.
“Pakistan attaches high value to its relations with Iran. Trade and investment are the core of our trade policy. The private sector and chambers of commerce should play an active role in enhancing the trade volume,” Jam Kamal said during his inaugural remarks.
Pakistan’s government is fully committed to supporting and facilitating the private sector in doing business with Iran. Mutual cooperation in services, agriculture and animal husbandry, scientific research and food security could bring benefits to the region, he said.
Farzaneh Sadegh, while welcoming the participants, highlighted the importance of the Joint Economic Commission. She said that deliberations in these sessions would lead to roadmaps for the future, and follow-up meetings would definitely bring results.
She also pointed out the steps that would be taken for ease of doing business, visa facilitation, border markets and the banking sector.