Pakistani entrepreneurs invited to start JVs with Portuguese counterparts

LAHORE, February 12: Pakistani entrepreneurs are invited to start joint ventures with their Portuguese counterparts in the sectors of textile, food, rice, information technology, sports goods and agriculture that would be equally beneficial for the both countries.
The invitation was extended by the Charge De Affairs of Portugal Joao Paulo Sabido today while talking to the LCCI Senior Vice President Almas Hyder and Vice President Nasir Saeed here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry. President Pakistan Portugal Business Council Mr. Awais and LCCI Executive Committee Members were also present on the occasion.
Joao Paulo Sabido said that there is a huge scope for the expansion of two-way trade between Portugal and Pakistan as both countries. He said that Pakistani entrepreneurs should focus on Portugal to exploit the untapped market potential for all the traditional and non-traditional products.
He highly appreciated the comparative prices, quality and standards of Pakistan-made products especially textile, rice and sports goods. While stressing the need for exchange of trade delegation and chamber-to-chamber contacts, he said that Pakistani trade delegations would have extremely favorable response towards Pakistani products as both countries have longstanding cordial relations.
He said that Portugal is one of the largest users of yarn therefore Pakistan should avail this opportunity to the maximum. He said that Portugal is generating most of energy through renewable/wind energy, Pakistan could learn a lot from Portuguese expertise in this regard.
The LCCI Senior Vice President Almas Hyder said that Pakistani businessmen are eager to develop close working relations with the Embassy of Portugal. He said that Pakistan and Portugal enjoy good diplomatic relations. Portugal comes at 8th place among the top exporting destinations and at 12th place among the top importing member states of European Union.
He said that although Pakistan is having favourable balance of trade with Portugal and overall trade is also growing for the last three years in particular but its level need to be enhanced.
The LCCI Senior Vice President said that said that in 2012, the total worth of Pakistan’s exports to Portugal was dollar 109 million which increased to dollar 155 million in 2013 and dollar 167 million in 2014. There was almost same trend noticed in imports from Portugal to Pakistan. In 2013, the value of imports was dollar 13 million that slightly increased to dollar 19.2 million in 2014.-PR