Pakistan, Tunisia to sign PTA for improving bilateral trade

By APD writer Muhammad Sohail

ISLAMABAD, Oct. 28 (APD) -- Pakistan and Tunisia are all sent to sign a preferential trade agreement (PTA) to unleash huge opportunities for improving bilateral trade between the two countries, it was learned on Saturday.

Adel Elarbi, the Tunisian ambassador to Pakistan, told Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) of Pakistani capital Islamabad that the PTA would be signed later this year.

Terming Tunisia as a gateway for Pakistan to enter the large markets of Africa, Elarbi said that due to lack of awareness on both sides about the potential for mutual cooperation, Pakistan could not exploit the geographical location of Tunisia for achieving benefits for its economy.

The envoy said African continent is future center of business opportunities and Tunisian government is encouraging foreign investors due to which many investors from China, Turkey, Iran and other countries had invested in Tunisia.

He urged Pakistani business community to visit Tunisia to explore joint ventures and investment in its free economic zones.

Tunisia’s 80 percent trade is with the European Union, and Pakistan has planned to promote its exports to Africa and EU by enhancing cooperation with former.

Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Amir Waheed, President of ICCI, said that Pakistan and Tunisia enjoyed cultural and socio-political heritage, but the bilateral trade between the two countries was quite negligible.

Urging both sides to focus on the frequent exchange of trade delegations to explore all untapped areas of mutual cooperation, Waheed said Tunisia has good expertise in medical science and education field and Pakistan would seek cooperation in those fields.

Identifying agriculture, textiles, tourism, industrial machinery and IT as other potential areas of cooperation, he said Tunisia is the second largest exporter of olive oil and Pakistan is an attractive market for its olive oil, dates and other products.

Similarly, Pakistan could export many products to Tunisia including textiles, leather products, surgical instruments, rice, and cotton, he said, adding that both countries should focus on facilitating strong business linkages between private sectors that would help in improving bilateral trade and economic relations.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)