SIALKOT: High Commissioner of Canada in Pakistan, Perry John Calderwood, on Thursday stressed the need for boosting bilateral trade and investment between the two countries.

Addressing a meeting of exporters held at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), he urged Pakistani exporters to explore the trade markets of Canada. “There is a huge potential for bilateral trade between the two countries,” he added.

Mr Calderwood said Canada intends to increase its mutual trade volume with Pakistan from $1 billion to at least $3bn, for which both countries must take necessary measures.

“Several Canadian multinationals have already invested billions of dollars in various sectors in Pakistan, including solar energy and information technology,” the high commissioner said.

He assured Pakistani exporters that they will get easy access to Canadian markets.

Welcoming the Canadian envoy, SCCI Acting President, Abdul Waheed, in his speech said, “The balance of trade is in favour of Canada at the moment. Canada’s expertise in industrial and economic sectors and its human welfare index is one of the best in the world and we wish to benefit from its capabilities and skills in our capacity building for exports, manufacturing sectors and transfer of technology and knowledge base to the SMEs.”

Mr Waheed added that Canada should encourage mutual exchange of trade delegations and single country exhibitions of Pakistani products in Canada.

The Canadian envoy assured local businessmen of Canada’s will for investment and joint ventures in the value-added industries of Sialkot which would be beneficial for both sides.

“We firmly believe that with Canadian technology and Pakistani craftsmanship, we could do wonders in the international markets”, said SCCI Vice President, Abid Ahmed Khawaja.

On the occasion, Sialkot’s business community urged for establishing strong business-to-business and people-to-people linkages between Pakistan and Canada. They further called for technology transfers and knowledge sharing for improving the small- and medium-enterprise sector in Pakistan.

Bilateral trade between the countries amounted to $856 million in 2015-16 and $911.6m in 2016/17. Pakistan’s major exports to Canada include rice, textiles, cotton yarn, carpets, synthetic fabrics, medical/surgical instruments, sports goods, jewellery, iron, steel and chemicals.

Earlier in the day, Mr Calderwood visited leading industrial units manufacturing sports goods and surgical instruments.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2017