December 19, 2007	Wednesday	Zilhaj 8, 1428

KARACHI, Dec 18: Russian Ambassador Sergey N Peskow said on Tuesday that National Bank of Pakistan and Askari Commercial Bank would open their branches in Moscow soon to facilitate exporters.

The Russian envoy disclosed this during a meeting with TDAP Chief Executive of the Tariq Ikram. He was accompanied by Russian Consul General Vladimir V Seliverston and head of Trade Commission of Russia Vitaly Glinkin.

He called for the revival of Pakistan-Russian Business Council and setting up of joint business council body for enhancing bilateral trade.

He showed a keen interest in holding single country exhibitions, besides establishment of trade house of Pakistan in Moscow for creating awareness in Russia about the vast potential of Pakistani products and their competitive prices.

Tariq Ikram informed him that Pakistan’s exports to Russia had increased from $20 million to $140 million in the last eight years and added that vast potential existed for expanding volume of bilateral trade.—APP