SIALKOT, Nov 13: Trade officer of Belgium in Islamabad Abid Hussain on Tuesday said that there were bright opportunities of setting up joint ventures between Belgium and Pakistan in different track fields.

This was stated by him, while addressing a joint meeting of local traders, industrialists and exporters at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) after visiting the various industrial units in Daska, Sambrial and Sialkot city.

The trade officer offered some direct trade relations to the Sialkot business community for enhancing mutual trade and exports. He said adequate efforts would be made for the establishment of joint ventures between the two countries.

Mr Abid stated that Belgium and Pakistan are enjoying healthy trade relations and it is high time that positive and effective efforts should be made for further strengthening these trinities through accelerating the pace of mutual trade and exports activities. He assured the Sialkot business community about the early provision of up-to-date trade information of Belgium, adding that this information would be helpful in assisting the business community, about the Belgian markets.

Earlier, SCCI president Daud Ahmad Chattha and vice-president Mohammad Athar Dar informed the Belgium envoy about the unique export culture of Sialkot, saying that Sialkot is hub of export-oriented cottage industries, earning $600 million annually.

Later, talking to this correspondent at SCCI, the trade officer hinted that business circles of Belgium and Pakistan would soon establish a bilateral business council to explore the possibilities of launching a joint council of trade, investment, industrial and technology ventures.

This council’s forum would be maximised for continuous exchange of trade information between the private sectors to promote the trading opportunities between the two countries.

The Belgian envoy said that some positive steps should be taken for developing close ties between Belgian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry.