SIALKOT, May 18: ASEAN ambassadors on Thursday visited the SOS village, some industrial units and the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry during the second day of their two-day visit here.

They lauded the business community for its services towards these children for their better growth, education and training.

Thereafter, the envoys visited the leather factory of Punjab Industries Minister Muhammad Ajmal Cheema and Sialkot District Nazim Akmal Cheema.

On this occasion, the ambassadors said the Sialkot exporters had a great potential to capture the ASEAN markets by exporting their best quality traditional and non-traditional items and stressed upon the need for exchange of trade delegations.

Meanwhile, talking to the press, the visitors termed the soccer ball industry as child labour free and hailed the Pakistan government for making efforts in this regard. They said several of their countries’ companies were intending to launch joint ventures with the business community of Sialkot.

They invited the Sialkot exporters to visit ASEAN trade fairs and industrial exhibitions.

The ASEAN ambassadors also visited leading industrial units in Sambrial-Daska, Uggoki and Sialkot.

Earlier speaking at a meeting of industrialists at SCCI on Wednesday night, the ambassadors stressed upon the need for boosting economic relations between businessmen of ASEAN and Pakistan.

On this occasion, the SCCI chief said it was encouraging that efforts between the Pakistan government and ASEAN were under way to improve trade ties for which ASEAN-Pakistan Business Council had been formed between ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).

Meanwhile, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed between the SCCI and a private company here on Friday (today) at the chamber for the construction of an expo centre.