KARACHI: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has called for expanding technical collaboration with Australia in livestock and dairy farming.

FPCCI president Sultan Ahmed Chawla in a meeting with the High Commissioner designate to Australia Fauzia Nasreen said it was imperative that trade opportunities with Australia should be identified for the benefit of both the countries.

The High Commissioner designate said she would see to it that a professional firm is engaged to conduct survey of Australian market and draw out a list of feasible tradable items.

Fauzia Nasreen pointed out that presently, annual trade volume between Pakistan and Australia is around $500 million only with the balance of trade in favour of the latter.

Mr Chawla said that the FPCCI would be looking forward to developing interaction with its Australian counterparts and formation of a joint business council to identify areas of trade and investment.

Vice-chairman FPCCI Mansha Chura, Zakaria Usman, Mumtaz Ali Sheikh and S M Muneer were present in the meeting.

As per the trade figures for fiscal 2009, out of total exports of $17,781.8 million, goods worth $133.3 million were exported to Australia. Similarly out of total imports worth $34,822 million, goods worth $410.89 million originated from Australia.

Major items of export from Pakistan to Australia are textile made ups, rags etc. apparel, cloth, cotton yarn and woven fabrics, leather and leather manufactures and rice.

Major Items of imports from Australia are oil seeds, grains, petroleum products and oil, wheat, animal and vegetable fats and oil and leguminous vegetable.

In 2008-09 Pakistan exported to Australia textile made ups textile and rags etc worth $64.27 million, cotton yarn and woven fabrics worth $18.64 million, and rice worth around $7 million.

Prominent imports from Australia during the last fiscal included oil seeds and grains $132 million, petroleum products and oil $124 million, and wheat worth $91 million.