PESHAWAR: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and the Iranian Consul General in Peshawar, Mohammad Baqir Begi, have agreed to exchange delegations of businessmen and make joint efforts for increasing trade volume between Pakistan and Iran.

This understanding was reached in a meeting of the Iranian envoy with SCCI president Haji Mohammad Afzal and his team at the chamber here on Thursday.

According to a statement, Mr Afzal invited the business community of Iran through the envoy for investment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the hydel power generation, gems, jewellery, marble, medicines, petrochemical, and ghee and oil sectors.

The traders’ leaders, including SCCI senior vice-president Mohammad Iqbal and its executive committee members, were also present on the occasion.

Mr Afzal called for removal of all the hurdles in the business activities between the two neighbouring states, saying that the countries had the potential to boost their bilateral trade.

The SCCI chief said that Pakistan gave much importance to trade with Iran and thus the business community of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also wished to have trade ties with Iran on solid footings.

He said that the trade volume between the two states could be increased to $5 billion. He said that both the states should take effective steps for an end to the menace of smuggling. He emphasized on exchange of delegations of business community so that the people could come closer to each other.

He invited the business community of Iran to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and wished to lead a delegation of businessmen to Iran to share their experiences.

Mohammad Baqir Begi agreed to the proposals presented by the SCCI chief and assured that Iran would issue multiple visas to the traders’ representatives on the recommendations of the chamber. He said that Iran wanted to join the China- Pakistan Economic Corridor and negotiations for the purpose were also in progress.

He said that after lifting of economic sanctions from Iran the chances for trade between the two countries had increased manifold. The envoy said that flights from Peshawar to Tehran would be started till 2017.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2016