QUETTA, May 16: Balochistan Governor Amirul Mulk Mengal has underlined the need for exchanging delegations for close cooperation between private sectors of Russia and Pakistan and to explore possibilities for increasing trade between the countries.

Talking to new Russian consul general in Karachi, Vladimir P. Mekhalof, who called on him at the governor’s secretariat here on Thursday, he said exchange of trade delegations would help introduce products in each other’s countries and find out possibilities for cooperation.

Governor Mengal expressed his hope that the consul general would make efforts for promoting trade and economic ties with special reference to Balochistan.

The consul general assured the governor that he would make all possible efforts in this regard. “I will work for strengthening friendship between the countries and increasing cooperation in different sectors,” Mekhalof said.

The Russian envoy later called on provincial minister for industries and mineral development, Sardar Mohammad Ali Jogezai, and discussed matters regarding trade and investment in the industrial sector.

Sardar Jogezai informed him about the provincial government’s policy regarding trade and foreign investment. He said Balochistan was exporting fruits.

The minister said that with the completion of Gwadar deep sea port, the province would play an important role in the country’s economy.