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Summary Australian High Commissioner Peter Heyward said potential to boost trade needs to be explored.
Addressing the business community in Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Tuesday, Australian High Commissioner, H.E Peter Heyward said tremendous potential lies between the economies of Australia and Pakistan which need to be explored for enhancing bilateral trade relation between the business communities of both countries.He said that Australia has the potential for investment in specialized sectors and there is an immense potential of bilateral trade between two countries specially agriculture products from Pakistan such as mango and citrus posses the potential to penetrate the Australian market because of its quality and exceptionally good taste.The Australian High Commissioner said that Australia could help Pakistan in capacity building of its professionals and also could provide expertise in improving agricultural productivity, post-harvest value addition, dairy products, livestock, food processing, mining and oil & gas exploration.In his welcome address, Yassar Sakhi Butt, President ICCI said that bilateral trade between the two countries does not reflect true potential of their cooperation as trade volume between Pakistan and Australia was just over US$ 500 million during 2010-11 due to limited number of trade items.ICCI President underlined the need of diversifying exports by focusing on non-traditional and value added items for improving trade which would create more jobs, raise living standards of people and promote sustainable economic relations between the two countries. He said that Pakistan could export finished textile goods, mangoes, citrus, rice and other agricultural produce to Australia.He said that Pakistan offers lucrative investment opportunities to the Australian companies due to its strategic location, liberal investment policy, untapped natural resources and expanding consumers market. He said that Australia’s cooperation in energy sector could greatly help Pakistan in coping with its serious problem of energy deficit.Yassar Sakhi Butt said that enhanced exchange of trade delegations and promotion of direct interactions as well as cultural activities are essential to explore new areas of mutual cooperation, joint ventures and investment between the private sectors of Pakistan and Australia.
