October 12, 2006	Thursday	Ramazan 18, 1427

ISLAMABAD, Oct 11: The first-ever meeting of the Pakistan-Mexico Joint Commission on trade, investment and economic cooperation will be held in Mexico City on Thursday (Oct 12).

The Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar will lead the Pakistan delegation. The Mexican side would be led by Angel Villalobos Rodriguez, Under-Secretary of the ministry of economy.

The agreement to establish the Pakistan-Mexico Joint Commission was signed between the two countries during the visit of President Pervez Musharraf to Mexico on December 2-3, 2004.

The joint commission meeting has a wide-ranging agenda, including exchange of views on the economic outlook of both countries, joint evaluation of economic, trade and investment opportunities between Pakistan and Mexico, review of the status of various agreements under consideration, and consideration proposals for deeper collaboration in the field of trade, industry, investment, services and private sector participation.

The two sides will also discuss the issue of ban on the export of Pakistani rice to Mexico with a view to finding an early resolution.

During the visit, Ms Khar is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with a broad array of stakeholders.—APP