Peshawar: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Sherbaz Bilour on Wednesday invited Belgian businessmen to invest in agriculture, tourism, gemstones, oil and gas, mines and minerals, hydel power generation, as well as projects being developed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
He expressed his views on the matter during a meeting with Ambassador of Belgium Philippe Bronchain at the SCCI House. The two officials discussed various projects pertaining to bilateral trade, investment and joint ventures.
They confirmed that the SCCI and the Brussels Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) would sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance trade ties between Pakistan and Belgium.
On his part, the Belgian envoy expressed his country’s willingness to invest in the Pakistani market; further stating that he would play his part in fostering trade and investment ties between the two countries.
He also endorsed the recommendations and proposals presented by the SCCI president and his team and stressed the need to bolster mutual trade and economic ties between the two countries at chamber level.
In response, the SCCI chief stated that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was an attractive market for foreign investors; adding that there was a need to establish business-to-business contacts, hold joint trade exhibitions, exchange trade delegations, and simplify the visa issuance process for both businessmen and tourists.
Bilour further highlighted the importance of strengthening trade ties with Belgium in order to improve Pakistan’s GSP plus ranking; adding that Brussels, the capital of Belgium, served as the headquarter of the European Union ‘which makes Belgium all the more important for forging and strengthening ties with the EU’.
