PESHAWAR: United States Consul General Tom Eckert paid a visit to the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and exchanged views with Chamber President Junaif Altaf related to the bilateral trade between Pakistan and the United States.
Addressing the occasion, US Ambassador Takkar further said, “Our priorities and goals are unified and quite compatible. We are trying to find business and trade opportunities to further improve the mutual trade volume with Pakistan, and he expressed his willingness to enhance long-term cooperation with the Border Chamber to derive equal benefits from common objectives.
Mr. Eckert said that the US Consulate is taking effective and practical steps and vigorous efforts for strong ties and active interaction with the business community to strengthen trade relations. Junaid Altaf, President of the Border Chamber, said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa/Peshawar is the gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asian states, adding that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the most suitable and profitable place for foreign investors.
He said that there are vast possibilities to expand Pak-US bilateral trade and economic relations. He said that there are vast and rare investment opportunities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in oil, gas, mining, gems and jewelry, marble, tools, honey, horticulture, tourism, and other important sectors. Ambassador Mr. Tom Eckert emphasized coordinated efforts and joint measures to remove obstacles to mutual trade and exports between the United States and Pakistan.
The Ambassador said that establishing strong ties, transfer of technology and exchange of experiences and information, and increasing capacity are the most important, which can prove helpful in solving many problems faced by the business community. Mr. Eckert said that Pak-US bilateral trade and economic relations can be further strengthened and strengthened through joint initiatives and efforts.
President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry stressed facilitating the visa process, setting up joint ventures, and mechanisms to strengthen Pak-US bilateral trade and economic relations and promote cooperation.
President Junaid Altaf highlighted the NOC, border issues on this occasion and said that the Border Chamber is making every effort to create a conducive environment for investors along with the government and relevant institutions, and is supporting every effort to establish peace and stability. The President of the Border Chamber appreciated the steps taken by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to facilitate the ease of doing business, promote trade and exports, and create a conducive environment for business in the country.
The diplomat acknowledged the difficulties faced by traders due to the closure of the border and said that this measure has had a severe impact on inflation. He stressed cooperation in IT, AI, Human Resource Development, Leadership and Capacity Building, and Product International Certification, etc., in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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