KARACHI, March 2: Secretary of State, Ministry of Industry and Resources, Romania, Dr Mihai Berinde, has invited more Pakistani companies to invest in his country, saying that more than 300 Pakistani companies with a total equity of two million dollars are already working there.

In a meeting with members of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Saturday, he said his country provided access to European Union and Central European countries. He also invited the local companies to participate in TIB 2002 fair in Romania.

Dr Mihai, who is leading a 16-member trade delegation to attend Pak-Romania Business Opportunities Forum, said his government was taking all measures to improve fair competition and transparency and reduced the role of bureaucracy. He said that a new legislative framework was also being planned, which would be harmonized with international practice.

“We want to do more business with Pakistan and consolidate our economic cooperation,” he said, adding his government has continued interest to develop cooperation in the on-going projects in Pakistan in addition to intensifying negotiations with the local side to undertake projects in Afghanistan.

The delegation, he said, was here to find new ways and means to increase industrial cooperation and exchange of goods.

He said Romania could import leather and leather products, rice, cotton, textile, medical instruments, sports goods and consumer goods.

Romanian Ambassador Dr Emil Ghitulescu invited the Pakistani businessmen to invest in the free-trade zones in Romania. He underlined the need for developing strong economic relations between the two countries so that it could become a model of EU-Asia Dialogue.

FPCCI vice-president Haroon Rasheed said Pakistan’s exports to Romania in 2000-2001 was $3.22 million as against $2.51 million in 1999-2000, whereas imports from Romania stood at $6.97 million as against $7.82 million in 1999-2000. He attributed the slow trade between the two countries to the lack of shipping service.