ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said current bilateral trade was not commensurate with huge potential with Iraq which needed to be explored to expand bilateral trade volume.

Addressing Pakistan-Iraq Business Council in Baghdad, he said Pakistan’s Single Country Exhibition held in March 2022 in Baghdad saw deals worth of $ 20 million which showed great business potential, between countries.

He expressed confident that this Pakistan-Iraq Business Forum would ensure similar opportunity for government to government (G2G) linkages and business networking amongst potential investors and trade partners from both sides. Bilawal stressed for enhancing collaboration and mutual investment in five prioritized fields including IT, food security, energy, construction and medicine. During event, MoU was also signed between Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and their Iraqi counterpart.

He said establishment of Pakistan-Iraq Business Council comprising chambers of commerce and key business representative entities from both countries would help expanding bilateral economic ties. He assured government’s full cooperation to work of this proposed Business Council. He said economic diplomacy was at heart of Pakistan’s foreign policy.

Bilawal said during his interaction with President, Prime Minister and his Iraqi counterpart, he discussed expanding cooperation in diverse areas including enhancing bilateral trade and investment, collaborating with Iraq in rebuilding and re-construction of their infrastructure and sharing of expertise in water management and agriculture. “We are aiming at concluding our discussions on accord on zaireen to facilitate them to flow legal movement while visiting holy shrines,” he said. He informed that Iraqi side had agreed to Pakistan’s request of opening its consulate in Najaf.

FM Bilawal pays visit to Imam Musa Kazim’s shrine

Meanwhile, Bilawal Bhutto paid visit to Imam Musa Kazin  shrine. Bilawal Bhutto specially arrived at holy shrine of Imam Musa Kazim. He planted sapling in premises of holy shrine. He prayed for unity of Muslim world and prosperity of country during his visit to Imam Musa Kazim shrine.

Published in The Daily National Courier, June, 07 2023

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