FROM MENAHILL RASHID
FAISALABAD: Argentina will collaborate with Pakistan in enhancing cotton production and value addition of different commodities and livestock products, said Mr. Leopoldo Francisco Sahores Ambassador of the Argentine in Islamabad.
Addressing the business community in Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI), he said that Pakistan and Argentina are basically agrarian economies and their future is directly linked with value addition of these commodities. He expressed concern about the decline in cotton production in Pakistan and said that the foreign exchange earning textile sector is totally dependent on cotton and the decline in its production is very embarrassing for your country. He said that Pakistan must enhance the per acer yield of cotton to ensure adequate supply of raw material to the textile sector. He said that his country could help Pakistan in enhancing cotton productivity with innovative technologies in addition to the value addition of different commodities. He said that he has just taken over his diplomatic responsibility in Pakistan but he is fully aware of the trade related issues. He welcomed the proposal of sending FCCI delegation to Argentine and assured to extend maximum cooperation by arranging B2B meetings with their counterparts in argentine. He also appreciated the scheduled “Pakistan Economic Conference” and said that he would try to participate in it along with the potential importers and exporters from his country.
Earlier President Mr. Atif Munir Sheikh introduced Faisalabad and FCCI and said that Faisalabad is the third largest hub of industry which is also contributing a major role in job creation. He said that although textile is the iconic representation of this city, other segments are also growing at a much faster pace. He said that predominantly Faisalabad is an agriculture based economy and we must switch over to value addition as raw materials for different products are available in abundance. He said that Argentina could share its technology with Pakistani industrialists. He also informed him about the Pakistan Economic Conference and said that office bearers of all chambers, women chambers and small chambers are expected to participate in it in addition to the Government policymakers and economists from the private sector. “As many as 15 ambassadors have so far confirmed their participation”, he said and also invited Mr. Leopoldo Francisco Sahores to attend it.
Mr. Kashif Zia regional chairman PHMA requested Mr. Leopoldo to convince diplomats from other South American countries to participate in PEC in order to give a quantum jump to the bilateral trade.
Senior Vice President Imran Mahmood Sheikh offered vote of thanks while President Atif Munir Sheikh along with Mr. Saad Aslam of Al-Barka presented FCCI shield to Mr. Leopoldo Francisco Sahores. The ambassador of Argentina also gifted a football to Mr. Atif Munir Sheikh, President FCCI.
Haji Abdul Rauf, Mr. Mohammad Afzaal, Mian Abdul Waheed, Mirza Hidayatullah, Mr. Mohammad Tayyab and Mr. Hassham Butt also attended this meeting.
