TORONTO, June 23: Two Toronto-based business organizations signed an agreement here on Sunday to promote “commercial linkages” between Canadian and Pakistani companies to help boost trade between the two countries.

Deborah Turnbull of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) and Anwar Merchant, chief of Canada-Pakistan Business Council (CPBC), signed the deal at a ceremony, which was attended, among others, by Deputy Consul General of Pakistan Dr Naeem Ahmed and ruling Liberal Party MP Jim Karygiannis.

The CME is Canada’s leading national multi-sector trade association with a mission to continuously improve the competitiveness of Canadian industry and expand exports, while the CPBC has been working to promote trade between Islamabad and Ottawa.

Both the organizations pledged to work together and said Canadian companies needed reliable, accurate and timely information on business opportunities and potential collaborators in Pakistan.

Anwar Merchant explained that a strong Canada-Pakistan relationships required the development of direct private-sector linkages to enhance and develop business and investment relations between the two countries. He pointed out that Pakistani companies seeking to globalize needed partnerships in North America, especially Canada.

Announcing details of their agreement, Mr Merchant said the two parties have agreed to: work together to identify and explore business opportunities in Pakistan, including joint ventures, strategic alliances and technology transfers; promote direct company-to-company linkages for their members.