As part of exploring possibilities of improving trade and commerce between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Committee delegations met with the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FPCCI), at FPCCI house on 10 January, 2017.
Mr. Imtiaz Gul, executive Director, CRSS, introduced Beyond Boundaries and its objectives at the start of the discussion. He said that PAJC comprising influential Afghan and Pakistani experts is having several important meetings with the business community on the sidelines of their workshop in Karachi. The idea is to learn from the business community in Karachi about their ongoing business activities in Afghanistan and the possibility of cooperation in the field of trade between the two countries.
Mirza Ishtiaq Baig, Vice President, FPCCI welcomed the two delegations and appreciated the CRSS-WPSO Beyond Boundaries project to improve bilateral relations: I’m glad to appreciate the Beyond Boundaries project for its efforts to make the two countries closer, improving social, economic prosperity and improving the cooperation in media, sports, arts and culture”.
While appreciating the efforts of the two PAJC groups, he remarked: “We business community of Pakistan, attach utmost importance to our relationship with Afghanistan. Even Pakistani government has underlined repeatedly and consistently that they consider Afghanistan a vital partner in security, economic development, political cooperation and people to people relations. Both the countries have unique and close ties of common history, trade, culture, tradition, language and more. The destinies of two countries are linked to each other. The past decade has proved beyond any doubt that the peace, security and stability in one country cannot be ensured with the peace and security in other country. Similarly, the two countries are vital to each other for economic growth and development. Pakistan and Afghanistan can easily become the center point of Asian economy linking Centre Asia with South Asia and China with West Asia and beyond”.
Mr. Baig briefed the PAJC members about the working of FPCCI. FPCCI serves as a bridge between the private sector and the government. It has 50 Chambers of Commerce under its umbrella. To strengthen and broaden the economic partnership between Afghanistan and Pakistan, we would like to explore the possibility of finding ways and means that would enable us to go from words into actions and agreements into concrete outcomes and results for our people. We have not pursued energy projects in the enthusiasm that we could. Current export of Pakistan has decreased from 1.8 billion to 1.7 billion dollars from 2014 to 2015. Pakistan exports mainly constitute sugar and sugar confectionery, cement, textile products etc. while Pakistani imports are mineral, fuel, oil, fruits, nuts etc.
He further said, that the area where we believe we can make a significant progress in the immediate and medium term include transit trade, connectivity in the area of road, railway, energy projects, regional economic integration and economic cooperation. CPEC has become a vital project for economic prosperity of the region as well as beyond the region. Various countries have shown their interest to join this mega project. Afghanistan is the main country linking Central Asian republics with South Asia and Pakistan and it can get competitive advantage by joining this project. At present, security, agriculture, community based programming, return of refugees and creation of jobs should be the major and urgent priorities for Afghanistan. Pakistan may extend its full cooperation in the areas like engineering, construction of building, highways, telecommunications, IT, education and service sectors.
Dr. Shoaib Suddle, from the Pakistani group said: “peace is a slow process and we should not expect miracles to begin with. In our meetings with the government leaders as part of this track II initiative, we find out that the government is equally concerned but there are a lot of challenges to the bilateral relations of both countries.
Muzammil Shinwari, Afghan former deputy minister for Trade & Commerce said that good economic relation can be built on good political relations. Karachi is very important to Afghanistan as most of its transit trade – which though is going down – comes through this city. Our job is to bring people closer and bringing goods from Afghanistan is one way of doing that. Afghanistan has raw material, cheap labor and access to international market. These links should be utilized and can be beneficial for both the countries. We need to bring businessmen closer. Holding joint expos on both sides should be considered. We must encourage the legal trade, aim to improve the bilateral trade and address the issue of transit trade. Afghanistan can facilitate transit to Central Asia. The collaboration in this regard can be extremely beneficial.
The FPCCI underlined that the interaction between the chambers of both countries needs to be increased and Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) may hold the ECO Chamber of Commerce & Industries (ECO-CCI) meeting in Kabul this year, as already agreed.
Wazhma Frogh, member of Afghan PAJC said that one way of improving perceptions on Pakistan in Afghanistan could be sending better quality products to Afghanistan. Negative perceptions can leave a massive impact on the political relations.
Dr. Baig, responded that the responsibility of improving perceptions lies with the citizens of both the countries. We should also understand the motives behind creating misperceptions. Private sector is extremely interested for investment in Afghanistan and working together to foster bilateral relations. Using products of each other’s countries creates natural synergy.
Shazia Marri, member of national assembly, said: “influential people like us should make the right voices and play roles in fostering cooperation and addressing the misperceptions. We can also take the issues of mutual concern to the parliament for discussion. We have no room for third parties to malign our relations”.
Elay Ershad, member of Afghan parliament remarked: “We can’t solve the issues unless we are fair to each other”.
Mr. Shinwari, further added that compulsory standards should be implemented for human, animal health and environmental safety. The known suppliers should be identified and shared for the trade of quality products.
In the end, on behalf the FPCCI, Mr. Baig thanked the two delegations for visiting and meeting with FPCCI, he said that the report of issues discussed in the meeting today will be prepared and shared with the concerned ministries.
The FPCCI hosted a working lunch for the two delegations, where informal contacts and discussions continued.
