ISLAMABAD, Sept 6: Pakistan and Argentina Joint Economic Commission meeting will start on Wednesday to discuss a range of issues for increasing bilateral trade between the two countries.

An official told Dawn on Tuesday that an official delegation of Argentina would meet commerce ministry officials to discuss areas for increasing cooperation and trade between the two countries.

According to an official, Argentina being an active member of the Mercosur had already agreed to initiate a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Pakistan.

The Mercosur is a trading zone among Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay for a bilateral trade agreement. Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela have associate member status.

The commerce ministry official said Pakistan would also urge the Argentina for motivating other members of the bloc for resuming of early talks for conclusion of PTA with the Pakistan.

The official said that Mercosur is an important grouping of South American countries representing a combined market of 210 million people with a GDP of $1 trillion and imports of more than $65 billion. Pakistan’s exports to the region, however, are only $27 million.