February 7, 2006	Tuesday	Muharram 8, 1427

KARACHI, Feb 6: Leading UAE-based companies have shown interest in investing in Pakistan. Trade statistics of the last five years revealed an encouraging trend in bilateral trade between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

The trade volume, which was $1.4bn in 1999-2000, increased to $2.8 billion in 2004-05, depicting a 20 per cent growth per year, said Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed, President of the FPCCI, while speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Pakistan-UAE Business Council of the FPCCI held here on Monday.

He, however, noted that trade between Pakistan and the UAE did not reflect the magnitude of amicable and historic friendly relations. He suggested to the Pakistan-UAE Business Council to formulate an annual action plan for the enhancement of bilateral trade.—APP