Pakistan, Chile to enhance trade, economic coop
Pakistan Times Business & Commerce Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Chile have agreed to enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation, particularly in the field of agriculture.

A high level Pakistan delegation led by Minister of State for Commerce Hamid Yar Hiraj and comprising Secretary Commerce Tasneem Noorani and Nisar Ahmad, Ambassador of Pakistan to Argentina visited San Tiago, Chile.

The Pakistani delegation held very useful meetings with the officials of Ministry of Economic Affairs, National Society of Agriculture and Fede Fruta (an apex body of Chilean fresh fruits farmers), according a news release issued here Saturday.

It is pertinent to mention that this was the first ever visit to Chile by any Minister and highest official of the Ministry of Commerce.

In the meeting held with Carlos Alverez, Senior Vice Minister of Economic Affairs, Government of Chile, the Pakistani delegation emphasized on boosting of bilateral trade by exploring each other’s markets.

Tasneem Noorani, Secretary Commerce pointed out the competitive strength of Chile in the field of agriculture and expressed Pakistan’s desire for mutual collaboration and transfer of technology to help build the capacity of Pakistani fresh fruits growers.

He mentioned the Chilean experience of developing and operating a model fresh fruit farm in China and informed the willingness of Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Board for establishing the same kind of model farm in Pakistan.

Carlos, Sr. Vice Minister of Economic Affairs, Chile told the Pakistani delegation that his government was willing to cooperate and he would ask the officials of the Ministry of Agriculture along with the experts of National Society of Agriculture, Chile to visit Pakistan in this regard.

The Pakistani delegation apprised of its market access strategy and current negotiations being held with various countries for Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA)and Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

The Chilean side expressed its desire for exploring complementarities of products on both sides and desired for more private sector business contacts between the two countries.

The Chilean officials also informed about the successful functioning of its Free Trade Area at Akiki in Chile in which Pakistani delegation showed keen interest.

During the FY 2003-04, Pakistan’s exports to Chile were to the tune of US $ 40 million whereas the imports in the corresponding period were about US $ 3 million.

Earlier in a meeting with Mr. Luis Schmidt, President of National Society of Agriculture and also of Fede Fruta, the Pakistani delegation appreciated the role played by the two apex associations of farmers in Chile for boosting exports of fresh fruits and other agricultural products of Chile to competitive markets like USA and EU.

The Pakistani side expressed its desire to initiate bilateral exchanges of agricultural and fresh fruit experts, which would provide opportunities to learn from each other’s experiences.

Luis Schmidt welcomed the suggestion and informed that he would soon be sending a team of experts who would study the dynamics of fresh fruit farming and trading in Pakistan and would come up with recommendations for capacity building of Pakistani fresh fruit farmers.●