DNA

ISLAMABAD – Former President ICCI Shahid Rasheed Butt on Friday lauded the decision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to boost trade and ties with African nations by opening new diplomatic missions in twenty countries.

The business community fully back the government’s decision, as it will boost exports while these countries can start investing in Pakistan, he said.

Shahid Rasheed Butt who is also honorary Consul General of Ghana said that the decision is well in time as the implementation stage of the African Continental Free Trade Area is due to begin in a few months.

Many African nations are also interested in CPEC and opening embassies there will result in enhanced economic cooperation, he observed.

He said that the government has planned to discover new markets to improve exports to Africa, the second largest continent in the world with 54 sovereign states, almost 1.5 billion of population and a collective GDP of $2.6 trillion.

The business community has been demanding for linkages to Africa but the former governments relied on promises while the current government has moved in this direction which is laudable.

He said that all embassies should establish display centres for exportable products and the private sector should also play their role to get into these new markets.