April 10, 2003	Thursday	Safar 7, 1424

KARACHI, April 9: Economic Counsellor of Romania Cezar Paun has said that a high-powered economic mission comprising Rumanian industrialists and businessmen is coming to Pakistan in a couple of months.

In a meeting with the members of Site Association of Industry, he said Romanian investment in Pakistan was increasing and he foresaw substantial inflow of Romanian direct investment by the end of this year.

He said that his country was also determined to increase bilateral trade with Pakistan, which stood at only $20 million. “There is ample scope for enhancement”, he added.

Cezer said Pakistan can buy plastic, agriculture equipment, pharmaceutical raw material, paper and automotive requirements from Romania. He also stressed that Site Association could play a dominant role in improving bilateral trade between the two countries.

He informed the Site members that Romania annually imports $3.5 billion worth of textile goods, which were over 20 per cent of its total imports. However, Pakistan’s share was only $1 million which was of no practical significance. He said that Pakistan’s textile industry must gear up efforts to increase its market share in Romania and there should be no complacency.

Ahsan Mukhtar Zuberi, the Honorary Consul General of Romania, advised SITE members that a large delegation of textile manufacturers must undertake a tour of Romania.