Pakistan Qatar Business Conference, 5TH July 2018, Islamabad

Pakistan  Qatar Business Conference, 5TH July 2018, Islamabad

H.E Sheikh Ahmed Bin Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Minister of Economy and Commerce of the State of Qatarand H.E MianMisbahurRehman, Minister for Commerce and Textile, Islamic Republic of Pakistan co-chaired Pakistan Qatar Business Conference on 5TH July 2018 at Islamabad

Islamabad (Pakistan Point News - 05th Jul, 2018) H.E Sheikh Ahmed Bin Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Minister of Economy and Commerce of the State of Qatarand H.E MianMisbahurRehman, Minister for Commerce and Textile, Islamic Republic of Pakistan co-chaired Pakistan Qatar Business Conference on 5TH July 2018 at Islamabad. A high-powered business delegation representing food, agriculture, livestock, aviation, maritime and shipping sector including thirty fivebusinessmen and fifteen officials from the State of Qatar, H.

E. Saqr Bin Mubarak Al-Mansouri, Ambassador of Qatarand diplomats, attended the Conference along with over 150 Pakistani businessmen and officials from Ministry of Commerce, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company, board of Investment. MianMisbahurRehman, Minister for Commerce and Textile, emphasized that Government of Pakistan desires that the long and historic relationship between Pakistan and Qatar should be translated into enhanced trade and evolved into a sustainable partnership.

He pointed out that Pakistan’s exports to Qatar have shown an increase of 75% in FY 2017-18 but in value terms, its only an increase of US $ 37 million. Due to import of LNG, trade deficit of Pakistan with Qatar has increased to US $ 1.6 billion. He invited Qatar to invest in Agriculture, food processing and petro chemical industry in Pakistan. As Qatar is preparing for hosting FIFA World Cup 2022, substantial scope exists for procurement of goods and services from Pakistan.

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Minister of Economy and Commerce of the State of Qatarelaborated that Qatar desires to have close economic partnership with Pakistan and the two countries could cooperate and have joint ventures in food processing, petro chemicals and other sectors. He announced that Qatar has prioritized six countries to have economic partnership and Pakistan is one of them. Therefore, he is visiting Pakistan along with high powered business delegation to explore opportunities in various sectors.

It was also announced that Qatar Airways is increasing the number of flights to Pakistan. The conference was followed by high level official meeting and business to business meetings between Qatari and Pakistani businessmen in all food sectors including fruits and vegetables, rice, seafood, sugar, wheat, poultry and meat and processed food. Pakistan’s private sector is keen to assist the Qatar’s private sector companies for mutual cooperation and promoting bilateral industrial, trade and investment opportunities between Pakistan and Qatar.

Prominent Pakistani companies such as Engro, Fauji Meat, Fauji Cereals, Marhaba, Mitchels, K&N, BarkatRice, Al Mahmood, Mateela, Sabroso, Vital tea etc. displayed their products which added interest of Qatari companies and Business to Business meetings were considered very useful. Qatari Minister and delegation indicated high level of satisfaction and appreciated the level of interaction arranged with the Pakistani companies by the Ministry of Commerce.