Pakistan has recorded a 70% increase in its food exports to Qatar for the past year since the economic blockade was imposed on the country on June 5, 2017, an official of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has said.
During the same period, Qatar’s petrochemicals and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Pakistan registered a 37% growth, according to FPCCI vice-chairman Tarek Haleem, who led a business delegation that met with Qatar Chamber officials on Sunday.
Haleem and his delegation met with Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani, first vice-chairman Mohamed bin Towar al-Kuwari, and other chamber officials, as well as business representatives.
Sheikh Khalifa said Qatar-Pakistan bilateral trade volume registered an almost 100% increase from $782mn in 2016 to $1.6bn in 2017.
“The number of Qatar-Pakistan joint companies operating in Qatar increased to 851 companies in different sectors. In July 2018, the ‘Qatar-Pakistan Business Forum’ held in Pakistan provided a good opportunity for both countries’ businessmen to review and enhance co-operation relations, and explore the investment climate of both sides, Sheikh Khalifa said.
He said the launch of a maritime route between Hamad Port and Pakistan’s Karachi Port contributed to the increase in import and export movement between the two countries.
“Qatar and Pakistan enjoy good economic and trade relations, which are growing fast owing to the close relationship of the leadership and peoples of both countries... the door is open for Pakistan companies to cooperate with Qatari firms and establish joint ventures in all fields,” Sheikh Khalifa added.
