LAHORE  - Pakistan has a huge trade and investment potential but security concerns are coming in the way that need to be addressed in the larger interests of quick economic revival.
These views were expressed by the Czech Ambassador to Pakistan Miroslav Krenek was talking to LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Monday. Vice President Kashif Anwar, Honorary Consul of Czech Republic Kamal Monnoo, former Vice President Saeeda Nazar, Executive Committee Members Chaudhry Muhammad Aslam, Talha Tayyab Butt and former Executive Committee Member Rehmatullah Javaid also spoke on the occasion.
The Ambassador said that Pakistan government would have to focus on law and order situation to attract foreign investment that is a key to early economic revival. He said that Czech is an attractive place to do business as the country is heavily dependent on exports.
He said that although Czech Republic was doing the most part of its trade with regional countries but still there was a room for Pakistani businessmen to join hands with their counterparts there.
He said that the volume of bilateral trade was no match to the business potential, the two countries have therefore the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry should come forward to play its role. He said that engineering and production of power plants were the strengths of Czech Republic and Czech businessmen were ready to initiate joint ventures with their Pakistani counterparts in these areas.
The Ambassador said that there was a need to work together in order to identify possible fields of cooperation and to provide proper information to business communities of both sides.
Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI President Engineer Sohail Lashari said that the current level of trade between Pakistan and Czech Republic needs more concrete steps on both sides and foremost among them is the exchange of information.
He said that to cover up that information gap, it is necessary that Chambers of Commerce of both the countries are involved and delegations are organized on reciprocal basis besides arranging single country exhibitions.
He said there is a huge potential of trade between Czech Republic and Pakistan provided aggressive marketing is done by both the countries. Frequent exchange of business delegations and holding of single country exhibitions can be instrumental in raising trade and investment between our two countries.
He said Pakistan can supply products like surgical instruments, sports goods, fresh fruits & vegetables, carpets, handicrafts, rice, fish & its preparations, besides textiles and leather products. Pakistan’s strength lies in textiles.