December 17, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 12, 1423

KARACHI, Dec 16: The Consul General of Iraq, Raad F. Towfik, informed the members of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry that their visa applications would be processed on priority basis for enabling them to attend Baghdad International Fair.

The consul general here during a meeting with KCCI president Shaukat Iqbal said that the fair begins from November 1 to 15 every year. The event provides an excellent opportunities to the business community to meet traders of Iraq and from other parts of the world, he added.

He said trading with Iraq was being channelled through Oman and Dubai due to heavy insurance charges levied for direct Iraq-bound cargo.

He said the businessmen who were interested to attend the fair, can get their visas on the recommendations of the KCCI.

Shaukat Iqbal said that Pakistan can export rice, wheat, textile made-ups, surgical goods, sea food and other products to Iraq. However, he added, it was important that the Pakistani exporters should get the appropriate information about the requirements of Iraqi markets in this regard.

He also invited the Iraqi investors to visit Pakistan export processing zones and study the possibilities of joint ventures and investment. He said that the businessmen of the two sides should organize exhibitions of their respective products in each other’s countries.—APP