LAHORE: The first ever “Doing Business with America” desk has been set up at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) with an aim to increase US-Pakistan trade which currently stands at $5.5 billion.

The desk was inaugurated jointly by US Commercial Counsellor Steve Knode and the Acting President of LCCI Amjad Ali Jawa on Monday. US Consulate General in Lahore Yuriy Fidkew was also present.

Mr Knode said the desk would provide in-depth business counselling and facilitation services to local companies interested in doing business with their American counterparts and investing in the United States.

The United States is also the leading export markets for Pakistani products. Imports from the United States to Pakistan reached a record in 2016, surpassing $2bn.

Mr Fedkiw and Mr Knode held meetings with business leaders representing the American Business Forum, All Pakistan Business Forum, LCCI and senior government officials at the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade and the Punjab Information Technology Board within last couple of days in a bid to promote business and commercial ties between the two countries.

Mr Knode said that Pakistan and the United States were trusted trade partners and it was time to strengthen bilateral ties. “The time is ripe to engage our companies even more,” he said.

According to a spokesman for the US consulate, the groups exchanged views regarding trade policies currently being implemented by both federal and provincial governments and highlighted business opportunities for US companies in Punjab and beyond.

The commercial counsellor also discussed key issues affecting trade such as promotion and investment, commercial diplomacy, security, taxation, intellectual property rights, and bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.

He invited Pakistani firms interested in opening and expanding operations in the United States to learn more about the SelectUSA investment promotion initiative.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2017