ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has urged the visiting Indonesian trade delegation to consider increase in imports from Pakistan to reduce the current trade deficit between the two countries.

This was stated by ICCI president Akram Farid in a meeting with an Indonesian delegation of 20 businessmen, exporters and senior executives led by Indonesian trade minister Madam Rini Sumarno Soewandi at the chamber house here on Thursday.

The president pointed out that the volume of total trade did not reflect the potential that existed in the economies of the two countries. He said Pakistan exports declined by more than half to $84 million in the year 2001 in comparison to $137 million last year.

The president further said Pakistan’s geographical location represented an important gateway to Indonesian products for export to Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics (CARs) and middle-eastern countries.

He said Pakistan had an investment-friendly policy and urged the Indonesian businessmen to have frequent interaction with Pakistani entrepreneurs to promote trade and investment.