August 18, 2007	Saturday	Sha’aban 4, 1428

SIALKOT, Aug 17: Libya and Yemen have assured the local business community that they would import the Sialkot-made sports goods, surgical instruments and leather goods directly instead of importing these through other countries.

Ambassador of Yemen Abdul Elah Mohamed Hajar and Ambassador of Libya Ibrahim E. Mukhtar Henitish gave this assurance while addressing a meeting of business community held at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Friday.

The ambassadors said that the import of items directly from Sialkot would be comparatively cheaper than imports through other counties.

The step would also boost the mutual trade.They also announced to ease the visa policy for genuine businessmen, besides pledging to make all out efforts to remove the tariff and non-tariff trade barriers for the smooth flow of trade.The envoys said that several leading Libyan and Yemeni companies were keen in setting up joint ventures with the businessmen of Sialkot.

The ambassadors also announced to ease their visa policies for the Sialkot businessmen and said that business visas would be issued on the recommendations of the Sialkot chamber.

They envoys also agreed to a proposal of SCCI for exchange of trade information, holding single country exhibitions, and exchange of trade delegations between the three Islamic states.

They pointed out that Yemen and Libya had simple foreign trade regulations, along with customs, taxation and trade logistic facilities for exporters, which provided good opportunities for the Sialkot-based companies to make maximum exports to Yemen and Libya.

Speaking on the occasion President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Abdul Waheed Sandal said that the both Yemen and Libya provided enormous opportunity for export of items produced in Sialkot like sports goods, surgical instruments, leather products, textile items, martial arts and military uniforms and badges.

Later, the ambassadors visited some leading industrial units in the city. They lauded the craftsmanship of international standards of the local artisans and the export-oriented culture of the city.