Rawalpindi: Nigerian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Maj Gen (retd) Ashimiyu Adebayo Olaniyi, has urged the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) to explore investment opportunities to strengthen bilateral trade ties. He said that business community can play a key role to boost the trade horizons of Pakistan and Nigeria to the new heights. He was exchanging these views with the President Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zahid Latif Khan in a meeting during his visit to the Chamber on Tuesday.
The Nigerian High Commissioner underlined the objective of his visit to RCCI and said that Nigeria and Pakistan have identical problems and history. No doubt they are enjoying good cordial relations for the last many years but these relations could not be translated into economic term due to different reasons. Trade volume between the two countries is very low and it is need of the hour to further enhance bilateral trade ties. He said that Nigeria offers great investment and business opportunities to Pakistan in a number of areas including oil and gas, pharmaceutical, textile, minerals and mining, shipping, agriculture, livestock and fisheries.

Speaking on the occasion President RCCI Zahid Latif Khan said that Pakistan and Nigeria enjoys extremely cordial economic and political relations at all international forums including members of D-8 forum and Organization of Islamic countries (OIC) in addition to having strong friendly and diplomatic relations. He said that business community of both sides should interact on regular basis and exchange of trade delegations must be made on monthly basis to create friendly atmosphere between two communities. He lauded the vision of honourable guest and ensured him full cooperate in this regard.

RCCI chief emphasized on the frequent exchange of trade delegations, increased liaison and trade information of potential buyers of Pakistani products in Nigeria, Identify more and more tradable products  with priority be given to each others’ products,  sector-specific delegation to Nigeria, Single Country exhibition at important cities in Nigeria and participation in trade exhibition in both the countries.