The New Nation - Internet Edition

Pakistan High Commission (PHC), Dhaka is holding two seminars on Bangladesh-Pakistan Trade Opportunities Under SAFTA as per following schedule:

Program in Dhaka: Jointly with the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FBCCI), Dhaka on the 26th January 2008, Saturday. from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the FBCCI Conference Room, Federation Bhaban (8th Floor), 60 Motijheel CA, Dhaka. The programme will be chaired in Dhaka by Syed Manzur Elahi, Administrator, FBCCI and the High Commissioner of Pakistan, Alamgir Babar will be the special guest. Two. Key-Note Speakers will address the seminar: Dr. Safdar A Sohail, Director General, Foreign Trade Institute of Pakistan (FTIP), Islamabad on "Realising the Trade Potential between Bangladesh and Pakistan under SAFTA". while Dr. Mostafa Abid Khan Joint Chief, Tariff Commission of Bangladesh, from Bangladesh side.

Programme in Chittagong: Jointly with Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry on the 28th of January 2008 at Chittagong Chamber The Seminar will be chaired by Mb. Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, President Chittagong Chamber of Commerce & Industry who will also be the keynote speaker, while Dr. Safdar A Sohail. Director General. Foreign Trade Institute of Pakistan (FTIP). Islamabad will make the same presentation.

Discussants from trade related organisations will discuss the trade opportunities under the concessions available for the export surpluses of the two countries.

The 14th SAARC Summit concluded on the 5th of April 2007 in New Delhi. Many decisions were made and opportunities under SAFTA have increased manifold. Awareness of these opportunities among the business community is critical in order to fully benefit from Safta.

Thus to enhance the vision of the stake holders and for capacity building of the importers exporters of both the countries, the two seminars are being organised by the Pakistan High Commission in collaboration with the trade bodies of Bangladesh where views of the public sector organisations like Ministries of Commerce of Bangladesh and Pakistan, Sariff Commission, NBR, EPB Dhaka, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and embodies could be shared with the participants to chart a way forward.

Topics to be covered in the seminars include Trade lists, ROO, Sensitive lists and overall Safta arrangements. Participants are importers. exporters, members of trade bodies, consultants, media, Dhaka & Chittagong Universities and other public sector organisations. Some members of business community of Pakistan who are present in Dhaka for the DITF 2008 have also been invited to share their views about the tradable commodities between the two countries. Bilateral trade with Bangladesh can be enhanced to $1 billion as envisaged by JEC in 2005 through full realization of the potential for trade under SAFTA.