UK to provide £500 million for trade development
KARACHI (March 28 2008): British Deputy High Commissioner, Robert W Gibson has informed business community that Britain will provide 500 million British pounds for trade development to Pakistan. Addressing members of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Thursday, he said that the UK government wants to boost trade relations with Pakistan.
He informed that around 8 to 9 trade delegations would visit Pakistan in next few months to look opportunities for fostering trade ties and entering into joint ventures with partners in Pakistan. He assured business community that UK would support Pakistan on issue of market access to European Union (EU).
Referring to travel advises, he said that travel advises don't meant to restrict visit of British nationals. It is just a caution for them to prepare visits plans carefully.
He said that Pakistan is a country with challenges and has the resilience to convert these challenges into opportunities of development. Referring to visa, he said that visa application form has been simplified and has only one page. Visa will be processed in just 24 hours.
However it is not guaranteed that visa would certainly be issued. Replying to a question, he said that Britain wants to have best cordial relations with new government.
Welcoming the guests, president KCCI, Shmaim Ahmed Shamsi said that Pakistan has close economic relations with UK. These relations exist in several socio-economic fields but most important are foreign trade and foreign private investment. He said that the current scenario offers great potential for investors from British companies to form joint ventures and enter into agreement for transfer of technology.
Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]
