Aus-Pak business forum`s website launched
LAHORE: Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan Tim George launched his Pakistan–Australia Business Forum (PABF) website here on Thursday.
He said the website, www.pabf.com.pk, would help the PABF to reach out to new members and would highlight the potential which existed for trade and investment between Australia and Pakistan.
He said he had taken a personal interest in building trade links as part of a strong bilateral relationship. The two-way trade relationship, which grew by 16 per cent last year to Rs.67 billion, showed excellent potential to grow even further, Mr George said.
He said `the bottom line is this – the more trade we can build between our countries, the greater will be the economic impact and the more jobs we will create in Australia and in Pakistan`.
As part of Australia`s long term commitment to Pakistan, as reflected in an increased level of bilateral engagement across the board in recent years, the high commissioner said that Australia stood ready to play a supportive role in helping Pakistan to meet its current challenges, including on economic reform.
Australia`s Senior Trade Commissioner to South Asia Peter Linford, also spoke on this occasion.
Mr George also reiterated his country`s long-term commitment with Pakistan in economic fields, especially in the agriculture, energy, education, engineering and social sectors, while addressing the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
He said in these sectors Pakistani businessmen could take advantage of Australian technology for the economic turnaround of their country.
The diplomat said Pakistan could also avail Australian expertise in vocational training as Australian vocational training modules were the best ones in the world. He called for a frequent exchange of traders` delegations to exchange opportunities. He said several Pakistani goods could grab the Australian market if properly marketed.
LCCI President Shahzad Ali Malik said Pakistan with its oil and natural gas reserves, the fourth-largest coal reserves in the world and potential for hydropower, offered marvelous opportunities to Australian businessmen.
He said there were prospects for growth in trade and investment, particularly in the field of agribusiness, education, mining for oil and gas exploration, information technology, communications and development of processed foods.
Mr Malik said though Pakistan was an agro-based economy, most of its agriculture production went down the gurgle due to the lack of outdated harvest technology. “As Pakistan is trying to strengthen its agriculture and dairy industry, the Australian agri sector could help boost our agriculture sector,” he said.
He said there was a vast scope of investment in Pakistan in horticulture, cattle and sheep breeding, processing, canning, packing and preservation of fresh fruits and vegetables.
He said business houses like the LCCI and the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Australia could join hands to enhance trade ties between the two countries through trade fairs, single country exhibitions as well as exclusive `country weeks`.
He said major Australian exports to Pakistan were fertilisers, mineral fuels, oil seed, fruit and vegetables, iron and steel, paper and paper board while the major Pakistani exports to Australia included textiles, cereals, cotton, leather goods, carpets and sports goods.
LCCI Senior Vice-President Sheikh Mohammad Arshad, Australian High Commission senior trade and investment commissioner (South Asia) Peter Linford, First Secretary Jon Bonner and Regional Director Western Australian Trade Office Pankaj Savara also spoke.
Source: Dawn
Date:5/27/2011
” 
” 
” 
” 
” 
