US Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale and European Union (EU) Ambassador to Pakistan Jean Francois Cautain held separate meetings with Commerce Minister Pervaiz Malik and discussed issues related to trade, here on Tuesday. The commerce minister said that Pakistan and US have cordial trade relations and that trade between Pakistan and US stood at $ 6 billion during the last FY 2016-17.

He said the trade relations between the two countries are governed by Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) which was signed in 2003 and covers Pak-US GSP Programme and Business Opportunities Conference (BOC), which is a govt to govt arrangement. Pakistan is preparing to host fifth BOC, says a press release issued here. Pervaiz Malik said that Pakistan is also looking forward to further improve bilateral trade with Afghanistan and facilitate the transit trade.

"Pakistan is looking forward for holding the 7th APTTCA meeting which was scheduled on 10-11 Sep, 2017 but was unilaterally postponed by the Afghan side," added the Minister. He said that US should extend cooperation with Pakistan in different sectors particularly agriculture.

David Hale said that Business Opportunities Conference will help Pakistan in building awareness of US businesses and will result in sector wise discussion and cooperation. Earlier, the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Pakistan Jean Francois Cautain called on Federal Minister for Commerce, Mohammad Pervaiz Malik. Matters of mutual interest were discussed in the meeting. The meeting also discussed issues related to GSP plus.-PR

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017