ISLAMABAD, Oct 9: Pakistan and Canada are considering a string of proposals for increasing current volume of bilateral trade, joint ventures and investment opportunities between the two countries.

Official sources told Dawn on Thursday that these measures would be discussed during the forthcoming Canadian Minister for Industry, Allan Rock visit from October 11-15.

Mr Rock would arrive here at the head of a group of Canadian businessmen and entrepreneurs. His delegation will also include one parliament member, Raymond Simard.

During his stay, the officials said, Mr. Rock would meet ministers for finance, commerce, industry and production, privatisation and investment, interior, information technology and telecommunication and the PIA chairman.

Canada-Pakistan Business Council and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry would sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Karachi.

Officials statistics made available to Dawn showed that the volume of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Canada has increased by more than 25 per cent during the last four years to $327.406 million in the year 2002-03 from $261.183 million.

The increase in the bilateral trade was mainly due to massive increase in the trade of textile products, sports goods and machinery and its parts and oil seeds oleaginous fruits between the two countries.

Further analysis of the trade figures showed that Pakistan’s exports to Canada registered a growth of 12.2 per cent to $205.945 million in 2002-03 from $183.403 million in 1999-2000. And exports from Canada to Pakistan increased by more than 56 per cent to $121.461 million in 2002-03 from $77.780 million in 1999-2000.