Lahore - Diplomats would have to take concrete and result-oriented efforts to expedite exports of the country so that Pakistan could get maximum share in the international market.
“Role of diplomats is critical for promotion of external trade as they are the people who have enough knowledge to portray economic potentials of any country to the outer world and pave way for foreign investments.”
This was stated by the LCCI Senior Vice President Almas Hyder while talking to a 41-member delegation of Trade Officers, being posted abroad, here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The LCCI Vice President Nasir Saeed and Executive Committee Members were also present on the occasion.
The LCCI Senior Vice President said that foreign diplomats could play an effective role for the promotion of trade relations and they should adopt innovative strategies to cope with the emerging global challenges.
He said that the primary objective of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry is to protect and promote the interests of the business community and it acts as a bridge between the government and the business community.
He said that in the developing trade scenario, it is necessary that the developing economies enhance trade amongst themselves. There is a need to prioritize South-South partnership. That can either be in the form of regional blocs or through bilateral cooperation. Pakistan has a specific importance due to its location. He said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor is going to give a jumpstart to the trade of Central Asian States in the regional context and worldwide. These land locked countries would be easily accessible to the Afro-Asian countries.
Almas Hyder said that it is necessary that the developing economies should enhance trade amongst themselves. There is a need to prioritize Afro-Asian partnership.
The LCCI Vice President Nasir Saeed said that the primary objective of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry is to protect and promote the interests of the business community and it acts as a bridge between the government and the business community.
He said that said that Africa still remains an unexplored territory from Pakistan’s standpoint.
He urged the trainee diplomats to identify tradable items, which leave a lot of room for product/market diversification. The basics for such exercises stem in the exchange of information between the diplomatic missions and the Chambers. He said the diplomats should also promote investment and trade between the states.
He said that building long-term economic ties are the best guarantee of peace in this world and the diplomats has a key role in this regard.
He said the Lahore Chamber is acting as an effective voice of business community in policy corridors and it also issues certificate of origin, visa recommendatory letters and these services help the business community save much of their valuable time.
Head of the delegation and Director General Pakistan Institute of Trade & Development Azher Ali Choudhry spoke about the importance of the private sector for the economic turnaround of the country while the visiting diplomats also asked a number of question ranging from economic situation of the country to the LCCI role.