PESHAWAR: The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry leadership and Brazilian ambassador have agreed that the two countries should take steps for increasing bilateral trade and establish a joint chamber of commerce and industry to facilitate businesspersons and investors.

The agreement came during a visit of Brazilian ambassador ClaudioRaja GabagliaLins to the SCCI offices here on Monday.

SCCI president Faiz Mohammad highlighted investment opportunities for Brazilians in the province, especially in oil and gas exploration and production, hydropower generation, commerce and industries, mines and minerals, gemstones, and agriculture sectors.

He proposed the establishment of Pakistan-Brazil Chamber of Commerce and Industry for facilitating visit of businessmen to both countries and ensuring sharing of their professional experiences with each other.

Mr Faiz said the proposed chamber would explore potential areas of economic cooperation between Pakistan and Brazil.

Envoy visits SCCI offices, hails restoration of peace in country

The envoy said Brazil was expanding trade ties with countries across the world and wanted to see better such ties with Pakistan. Chairman of the All Pakistan Exporters’ Association Manzoor Elahi informed the ambassador that Pakistan had vast natural resources, especially gemstones in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan, but lacked modern technology to explore them.

Also in the day, the envoy addressed journalists at the Peshawar Press Club and asked both Pakistan and Brazil to benefit from each other’s trade experiences by exchanging delegations.

He said peace had returned to Pakistan and it was good opportunity for foreigners to come invest money in the country without fear.

The ambassador said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had vast natural resources and therefore, foreign investors could benefit from them.

“Swat and Chitral have great potential for tourism development,” he said adding that his government wanted to work with Pakistan’s in education, tourism and sports sectors.

He condoled the killing of journalists in the 2009 suicide bombing of the press club.

“I admire the work of journalists working in this part of the country as it is worse affected by terrorism and lawlessness,” he said. The envoy said Brazil, the eighth largest economy of the world, could share its experience and ideas with Pakistan to improve economy, while it could benefit from Pakistan’s rich mineral reservoirs.

“Brazil is a better destination for Pakistani gemstones,” he said adding that Pakistan would import ethanol and bio-fuels from Brazil for use as alternative sources of energy.

He also called for better educational support and cooperation between the two countries.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2018