October 13, 2006	Friday	Ramazan 19, 1427

ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: Minister of State for Economic Affairs Ms Hina Rabbani Khar on Thursday asked for deepening trade, investment and commercial ties between Pakistan and Mexico.

“We have to take advantage of the vast opportunities that the economic success of both countries has opened up,” said the minister in her bilateral meeting with various stakeholders in Mexico city.

Ms Hina was leading a high-level official delegation to co-chair the inaugural session of the Pakistan-Mexico Joint Commission on trade, investment and economic cooperation.

According to an announcement issued here by the Economic Affairs Division, the minister in a meeting with President National Chamber of Commerce of Mexico City Lorenzo Ysasi said that the current level of Pakistan-Mexico trade was not commensurate with their real potential.The two sides agreed to encourage and facilitate close contact between the business communities of the two countries to enhance the volume of bilateral trade.

During the meeting it was also decided to hold Pakistan’s single-country exhibition in Mexico to be followed by a similar exhibition by Mexico in Pakistan. It was also agreed to utilise the mechanisms available in the chamber to resolve commercial disputes.

Ms Hina in a separate meeting with Mexican Economy Minister Sergio Garcia Zapada also discussed greater market access. She highlighted Pakistan’s interest in several initiatives including a bilateral investment treaty and free trade agreement (FTA).

The minister also underscored the vital importance of quickly resolving the rice ban issue to enable substantial expansion of trade and commercial ties between the two countries.

The Mexican minister assured Ms Hina in deepening bilateral trade and economic ties including through exchange of information, motivating business leaders to visit Pakistan.