950820

Pak-South

Africa trade

up 145pc

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Trade between Pakistan and South Africa has increased by 145 percent - from 25.575 million dollars in 1993 to 62.66 million dollars in 1994.

This was stated by Ismail Coovadia, High Commissioner of South Africa, during a meeting at the Federation House here on Sunday afternoon.

He said that Pakistan exports increased from US$16.95 million to US$26.60 million while South African exports increased from $8.625 million to $36.053 million, showing increase of 57 percent and 318 percent respectively.

He welcomed the establishment of Pakistan-South Africa Trade and Industry Committee under the aegis of FPCCI described it as a step in the right direction and hoped that the committee would work for promoting trade and economic cooperation between the two countries which had big scope for promotion. He assured that he would extend maximum assistance and facilitation to the committee.

Ismail Coovadia said that Asia was now the focus of attention of South Africa which had Europe and USA as its traditional trading partners.

Sheikh Humayun Sayeed, Vice-President FPCCI in reply welcomed the offer of cooperation by the South African High Commissioner and informed that Pakistan-South Africa Trade & Industry Committee of FPCCI was planning to take out a delegation on the occasion of Saitex Exhibition, Johannesburg due to be held in October this year. The High Commissioner advised the Committee to establish contacts with the Economic Affairs Departments in the nine provinces of South Africa to find out the areas of collaboration. He said that the delegation going to Saitex Exhibition should go beyond Johannesburg and visit other places.

He agreed to the need for establishment of direct air links between Pakistan and South Africa and said that the airline should not hesitate on account of passenger traffic. He said Malaysian Airline was hesitant to start a weekly flight to South Africa and now it was operating three weekly flights. Similar was the case with Cathy Pacific and Emirates Airlines.

He said that on the proposal of India, South Africa was considering to export gold directly to foreign countries instead of through London presently.