LAHORE, Feb 14: Ambassador of Spain Jose Maria Robles Fraga has said that his country would extend all-out support to Pakistan for lifting of anti-dumping duty on bed linen by the EU.

The ambassador gave this assurance while speaking at a meeting of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) here on Wednesday. He said that there was great scope for cooperation in various industrial sectors between Spain and Pakistan. Joint ventures could be launched in pharmaceuticals, electrical appliances, food items, engineering goods, agro-based products, mineral and mineral-based products and power generation sectors.

Spain had the technology to construct dams besides being the biggest user of renewable sources of energy. Both the countries could join hands for transfer of technology in these sectors, he added.

He said that there was a need for institutionalised relations between the two countries. The chambers of commerce could play a vital role in promotion of trade relations. The Spanish entrepreneurs were diverting their attention towards the SME sector and could benefit from the experience of their Pakistani counterparts.

He invited the LCCI to send a delegation to his country for exploring the possibilities of investment and joint ventures.

LCCI President Shahid Hassan Sheikh said that trade and economic relations had remained insignificant between Pakistan and Spain. Their trade has averaged around $364 million during the last three years. Pakistan’s exports to Spain during this period increased from $228.8 million to $341 million while imports had increased from $56.2 million in 2002-03 to $86.3m in 2004-05.

Speaking about the possibilities of economic cooperation between the two countries he said that Spain was famous for its well-developed tourism whereas Pakistan had a large number of places of historical significance and natural beauty, which had a strong potential of earning foreign exchange if properly developed through joint ventures.

Pakistan has an agro-based economy but does not have the technology to preserve excess agriculture produce. It could benefit from the professional expertise of Spain in the sector, he said.

LCCI senior vice-president Yaqoob Tahir Izhar invited the attention of the Ambassador towards anti-dumping duty imposed by the European Union on export of bed linen from Pakistan. The EU was also considering imposition of Rules of Origin, which would mean relocation of Pakistan's textile units to the Least Developed Countries such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Spain should use its influence to withdraw restrictions on Pakistani exports.