ISLAMABAD, AUG 2 /DNA/ – Pakistan’s designated Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh has said that America is the most attractive market for Pakistan and that we have to focus on it to explore more and more economic opportunities.

He said this while talking to Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry during his visit to the Chamber.

He said that in the capacity of a professional diplomat he thinks that his first and foremost responsibility will be to bring both the countries closer to each other.

 The Ambassador designate said that the United States is a consumer society that’s why it enjoys vital potential of trade and economic connectivity and that he will focus on more and more liaison to facilitate the holding of exhibitions to showcase Pakistani products.

Rizwan Saeed Sheikh added that he was totally convinced that Pakistan will successfully overcome its existing economic difficulties and that for this purpose he will also approach the Pakistani-Americans irrespective of their political affiliations to persuade them to explore the investment opportunities in Pakistan.

He described Pakistan’s IT sector as the most significant and attractive area for the rest of the world because of being cost effective as compared to other countries.

On his part, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari noted that the United States is not only the largest export market of Pakistan but a leading investor also with more than 80 companies currently functioning and providing employment to hundreds of thousands of people.

He said that both the countries are resolute to foster the existing economic partnership to long term stability and mutual prosperity by upgrading their economic collaboration in alternative energy, agriculture, climate resilience and technology.

Highlighting the significance of direct flights between the two countries he said that over the past few years the US companies have invested more than $1.5 billion in Pakistan in different sectors especially in consumer goods, agri-business, financial service, information and communication technology, healthcare and energy.

By expressing his good wishes for the Ambassador designate Rizwan Saeed Sheikh with regard to discharge of his duties in the United States, Bakhtawari said that ICC will not hesitate in extending every possible support to him for building bridges between the business fraternity of both the countries.

Former President ICCI Khalid Javaid by mentioning the difficulties the business communities are facing at the moment termed the expanded investments the only way forward to overcome the problem.

Former President ICCI and Secretary General United Business Group (FPCCI, UBG) Zafar Bakhtawari by terming the designate Ambassador as the most suitable professional for the job said that there is a dire need to focus on economic diplomacy instead of the political diplomacy to pull the country out of the existing economic mess. He said that when we will set right our economic matters, the political matters will automatically be aligned it will yield positive results.

He also highlighted the exchange of trade and business delegations importance for the image building.

Former President ICCI Mian Shaukat Masood expressed the hope that the Ambassador would build all the things articulately and focus on enhancement of the country’s exports to the United States.

Acting Vice President Ameer Hamza underlined the need for strengthening linkages between the Chambers of both the countries for the purpose.

Those who took part in the deliberations include Ch. Maqsood Tabish, Faizan Shahzad, Malik Mohsin Khalid, Shaikh Ejaz, Ch. Mohammad Ali, Sardar Sajjad, Tahir Farooq,  Zareef Ahmed, Mudassar Nazir, Waseem Ch, Zia Ch. and others.