RAWALPINDI, NOV 29 (DNA) – Joao Paulo Marques Sabido Costa, chargé d’affaires, Embassy of Portugal , paid a visit to the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) here on Wednesday. Addressing traders and business community he said that his country wanted to increase trade ties with Pakistan as both countries have good potential to improve bilateral trade in different areas.

He stressed that Pakistan and Portugal should exchange trade delegations and promote business to business (B2B) linkages to know each other and explore new areas of mutual cooperation.

Dr Joao Paulo Marques Sabido Costa said that being a hi-tech country, Portugal was ready to assist and provide technology and machinery to Pakistan in many sectors including agriculture, textile, marble, water resources, building and constructions.

The high potential sectors include; biotechnologies, shared service centers (call centers and associated infrastructures), high value added chemistry (polymers) and the electric and energy and telecommunications, he further added.

He said Portugal was close to European Union (EU) and Pakistan should develop close cooperation with it to get better market access to European and African regions. He said Pakistani food products, fruit pulp and Agri products have a good reputation and value addition can be made here. Pakistan should focus on promoting more products to Portuguese market under Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Plus scheme.

He said Portugal has offered a Golden Visa Program to attract investment in real estate sector and Pakistani investors should take benefit of this program. He said Portugal has Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) with many countries and by investing in Portugal, Pakistani investors can promote exports to Europe, Africa, Canada and other regions. He said RCCI should form a delegation for Portugal to explore new business opportunities.

Speaking at the occasion, Zahid Latif Khan, President, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that trade volume between Pakistan and Portugal was not encouraging and stressed that both countries should promote strong connectivity between private sectors to identify untapped areas of mutual cooperation.

He said both countries have good potential to exchange expertise in the fields of culture, education, science and information technology while promotion of tourism would strengthen bilateral relations.

He said RCCI is keen to organize a business opportunity conference and single country exhibition in Europe and Portugal can be the next destination.

He said Portugal should enhance the import of Pakistani products including pharmaceutical, marble, gems and stones, textiles, garments, surgical instruments, sports goods, leather products, fruits & vegetables and other products to extend full benefits of GSP Plus to Pakistan.