ISLAMABAD, Dec 17: The prominent business houses of Sweden and Denmark have expressed support for lobbying with the European Commission (EC) for withdrawing the anti-dumping duty imposed on Pakistan's bed linen.

The representatives of the leading companies of Sweden and Denmark stated this in separate meetings with Pakistan's Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan. An official announcement said that these companies expressed lot of confidence in the way forward in doing and developing businesses with Pakistan.

The prominent business houses conveyed their concerns about the anti-dumping duty on the bed linen exports to the Danish market and how adversely it would affect their businesses and the interest of European consumers.

Mr Khan invited these companies to invest in Pakistan in various sectors. Earlier, Pakistan's commerce minister met Lars-Oluf Lindgren, Sweden, State Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Employment and Communications Lars-Oluf Lindgren, at Stockholm and State Secretary of Danish Ministry of Foreign Trade Birger Riis Jorgensen at Copenhagen, Denmark.

During the meeting the commerce minister shared the view that the present level of trade between Pakistan and the two countries of Denmark and Sweden did not match the real potential of doing business with each other. It was agreed to undertake efforts to structure and improve greater exchange of trade delegations and other business promotional activities.

Sweden has strategically been positioning itself in developing long-term alliances and networking with Pakistani trade and in this perspective the discussions were held in a friendly and understanding manner.

Sweden expressed understanding of Pakistan's critical interests in the future design of market access being discussed currently among the member states. Sweden, like other Scandinavian countries, supports an open and liberal trade regime and Pakistan's interests are well understood.

The commerce minister thanked the Danish government for the support to Pakistan on all matters particularly trade and commerce. Both the countries expressed their understanding of Pakistan's concerns on the new proposal relating to market access being discussed in the European Union and expected to work out all future trade concessions in such a manner that would ensure a stable and well governed Pakistan.

Both the governments lauded the constructive role Pakistan played in the Doha Development Agenda and the way it tried to bridge the differences amongst the various members of the WTO.

Minister for commerce extended invitation to both the governments to organize official delegations to visit Pakistan and during their stay also attend the first ever mega event Pakistan Expo in Karachi from February 2 to 5, 2005.