April 04, 2007	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 15, 1428

KARACHI, April 3: While Sri Lanka has pushed up its exports by more than 61pc to Pakistan after signing Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Pakistan’s gain in exports to Sri Lanka is insignificant almost negligible which is less than even half a per cent.

President KCCI Majyd Aziz in first joint dialogue between the businessmen of two countries on “Pakistan-Sri Lanka FTA,” organised by KCCI early this week revealed that kinno export from Pakistan dropped from 28,000 tons to only 7,000 tons and rice export too came down by 85pc.

“Pakistani businessmen are not fully aware of the FTA and they have not done their basic homework,” the KCCI chief observed, according to a press release of the KCCI. The Sri Lankan businessmen, he said, has the advantage of learning experience from the FTA signed with India before entering Pakistani market. Mr Majyd pleaded for setting up a dispute resolution mechanism to facilitate more trade. In this regard he said chambers of Pakistan and Sri Lanka can play a vital role. His advice to Pakistan businessmen was to consider Sri Lanka a hub of trilateral trade among Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India.

He urged Pakistan government to grant “A” category visa to Sri Lankans on their arrival. Majyd disclosed that KCCI was organising first ever women entrepreneurs’ trade delegation to visit Sri Lanka in July next to have an exhibition.

The Director General of the Sri Lankan Commerce Ministry Ms Manel de Silva said that next round of talks on services sector with Pakistan would held soon. She advised Pakistan businessmen to set up joint venture projects in Sri Lanka as her country has an FTA with India and GSP plus agreement with EU.

Ghulam Chatoor, Chairman Sri Lanka Pakistan Business Council, emphasised the need for a favourable visa policy. He said that getting a visa in Saarc countries has become most difficult job when people expected borders to become soft.