LAHORE

Iranian Consul General Muhammad Hossein Bani Assadi has said that Iran is ready to start barter trade with Pakistan to facilitate the businessmen and to jack up the volume of two-way trade. Pakistan and Iran have the potential to cater to each other’s needs provided the businessmen have the exposure to the available opportunities, he added.
These views were expressed by him during his visit to Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Wednesday. Hossein Bani Assadi said that the business communities in the two countries would have to increase interaction to share their experiences in the larger interests of the people of two brotherly nations. He said that the volume of mutual trade between Pakistan and Iran does not match their respective potentials. He said that Chambers of Commerce in the two countries would have to focus on expansion of trade by holding single country exhibitions and through trade delegations to each other’s country.
He said that dissemination of sector-specific and trade-related information would go a long way in achieving the goal. Both the countries should share their experiences in the filed of science and technology also.
He said that agriculture, tourism and metal industry of Iran have opportunities of investment therefore Pakistani business community should come forward.
During his meeting with LCCI President, both sides agreed to expedite work on Free Trade Agreement between Pakistan and Iran as both the countries have huge potential to touch the staggering figure of $ 10 billion trade.
Hossein Bani Assadi said that Pakistan and Iran not only have common border but also share a glorious history. Pakistan and Iran have close cultural affiliations and both have remained steady trading partners as well but in recent years, the momentum of trade has been seriously affected.
“It should be a matter of concern for both sides that in 2014, the volume of bilateral trade has decreased to dollar 229 million which is a record low in this decade. In 2009 and 2008, our two way trade was as high as dollar 1.21 billion and dollar 1.16 billion respectively, he added.
LCCI President Ijaz Mumtaz hoped that Iranian trade planners would show the same foresight to ensure greater role to be played by Iran particularly in regional trade. He said that it is a proven fact that the economic prosperity lies in integration with neighbouring countries.
eagerly looking forward to expanding trade relations with Iran.
He said that although imports from Iran to Pakistan are following increasing trend but our exports to Iran are constantly dropping. For example, Pakistan exported goods to Iran to the tune of dollar 142 million in 2012 which dipped to dollar 43 million in 2014. In contrast to that Pakistan imports from Iran in 2012 were dollar 120 million which inched up to dollar 186 million in 2014.
He hoped that work on Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project will be expedited. It will not only play a significant role in addressing the energy crisis of Pakistan but further augment the trade relations between the two countries. Import of electricity from Iran can also be a good venture.