India and Pakistan should learn to co-exist: Pak Chamber head
Updated: Nov 16, 2013 01:57:29pm
New Delhi, Nov 16 (KNN) Pakistan has a large presence at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) here. President, Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Zuber Ahmed Malik spoke to KNN on India Pakistan trade relations.
1. Please elaborate on the role of trade fairs in improving commercial ties between India and Pakistan.
Exhibitions play a very important part in developing trade relations between the developing countries. You have the presence of about 25 countries this time, in the IITF. Pakistan has been participating since the last four to five years, and we have a huge pavilion. As manyh as 87 industries are being represented here from Pakistan this time.
2. How do trade fairs help SMEs of the two countries?
SMEs are the backbone of our countries. No country can be called a developed country without a strong SME sector, and that is equally true of India. India has got good SMEs represented by FISME, and I think they are doing a very good job. For whatever is being displayed in the IITF, the credit goes to SME sector of India.
3.Pak has recently signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Indonesia, what do you think about signing a similar agreement with India.
We do have an FTA with India as well in the form of SAFTA, in which there are six other countries besides India and Pakistan. If we utilize the SAFTA, I think both the countries can benefit a lot.
4. SAARC has been pushing for a zero trade point at the Wagah-Attari border, what do you think about that?
I think it’s a very good idea but Zero trade point is not possible. I think 0-5 per cent is normal and that is what is given in the SAFTA agreement as well. This should be done not only at the Wagah-Attari border, but also with SAARC nations.
5. How can trade relations be improved given the present political scenario?
I think, there are positive vibes coming through...let your elections be over. I personally feel that these are just election vibes, they don’t really mean it and after the elections are over, we will not hear them anymore.
6. What are the main problems being faced by the SMEs in Pakistan?
Energy. We are energy deficient, because of that, industries and SMEs as a whole are suffering. We cannot run the industry for full 8-10 hrs. Even the SMEs cannot. There are long hours of load shedding, so this is a very major problem right now and we are trying to sort it out. It is time consuming and it will take some time. Let’s hope, things work out.
7. What are the measures taken by you to tackle this problem?
Switching to renewable energy takes time. There is no immediate remedy for it. There were even talks of importing electricity from India. Let’s hope that goes through. In the meantime there have been projects initiated by the government. But for the project to materialize, it will take at least one to two years.
8. Some of the chambers are raising issues on the duty of textile being exported to India from Pakistan. What exactly are the issues?
The duty structure is very high in India. I think, it should be lowered, like wise if India has some problems regarding the duties, the government (Pakistan) should look.
India and Pakistan must learn to co-exist. We have a natural alliance in trade and other things as well. The sooner we get to know these things, the better it is for both the countries.
9. There are some issues regarding the time consumed for custom clearance of goods from both the countries to either side.
I think there has to be a positive change of attitude, nothing else. It is something which is only in the minds. We have to learn that we are neighbours. We cannot exchange our neighbours and for that our attitude should be positive, among both the Indians and the Pakistanis.
10. Do you think the visa regimes between the two countries should be liberalized for businessmen in order to improve trade relations?
Definitely, Visa is a very major problem. Two of the delegations from India are expecting clearance from the Pakistan side. Likewise, 2-3 of the Pakistani delegations are expecting clearance from the Indian side.
Our policies are basically reactive policies. Things have improved slightly; they have started issuing multiple one year visas. I know about the Indian side initiative as well. Likewise, Pakistan has issued multiple visas for yearlong to Indians, but that’s not enough. In my opinion, for both sides it is peanuts. We have to liberalize the visa regime; only then can trade flourish between the two countries. (KNN/SD)
1. Please elaborate on the role of trade fairs in improving commercial ties between India and Pakistan.
Exhibitions play a very important part in developing trade relations between the developing countries. You have the presence of about 25 countries this time, in the IITF. Pakistan has been participating since the last four to five years, and we have a huge pavilion. As manyh as 87 industries are being represented here from Pakistan this time.
2. How do trade fairs help SMEs of the two countries?
SMEs are the backbone of our countries. No country can be called a developed country without a strong SME sector, and that is equally true of India. India has got good SMEs represented by FISME, and I think they are doing a very good job. For whatever is being displayed in the IITF, the credit goes to SME sector of India.
3.Pak has recently signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Indonesia, what do you think about signing a similar agreement with India.
We do have an FTA with India as well in the form of SAFTA, in which there are six other countries besides India and Pakistan. If we utilize the SAFTA, I think both the countries can benefit a lot.
4. SAARC has been pushing for a zero trade point at the Wagah-Attari border, what do you think about that?
I think it’s a very good idea but Zero trade point is not possible. I think 0-5 per cent is normal and that is what is given in the SAFTA agreement as well. This should be done not only at the Wagah-Attari border, but also with SAARC nations.
5. How can trade relations be improved given the present political scenario?
I think, there are positive vibes coming through...let your elections be over. I personally feel that these are just election vibes, they don’t really mean it and after the elections are over, we will not hear them anymore.
6. What are the main problems being faced by the SMEs in Pakistan?
Energy. We are energy deficient, because of that, industries and SMEs as a whole are suffering. We cannot run the industry for full 8-10 hrs. Even the SMEs cannot. There are long hours of load shedding, so this is a very major problem right now and we are trying to sort it out. It is time consuming and it will take some time. Let’s hope, things work out.
7. What are the measures taken by you to tackle this problem?
Switching to renewable energy takes time. There is no immediate remedy for it. There were even talks of importing electricity from India. Let’s hope that goes through. In the meantime there have been projects initiated by the government. But for the project to materialize, it will take at least one to two years.
8. Some of the chambers are raising issues on the duty of textile being exported to India from Pakistan. What exactly are the issues?
The duty structure is very high in India. I think, it should be lowered, like wise if India has some problems regarding the duties, the government (Pakistan) should look.
India and Pakistan must learn to co-exist. We have a natural alliance in trade and other things as well. The sooner we get to know these things, the better it is for both the countries.
9. There are some issues regarding the time consumed for custom clearance of goods from both the countries to either side.
I think there has to be a positive change of attitude, nothing else. It is something which is only in the minds. We have to learn that we are neighbours. We cannot exchange our neighbours and for that our attitude should be positive, among both the Indians and the Pakistanis.
10. Do you think the visa regimes between the two countries should be liberalized for businessmen in order to improve trade relations?
Definitely, Visa is a very major problem. Two of the delegations from India are expecting clearance from the Pakistan side. Likewise, 2-3 of the Pakistani delegations are expecting clearance from the Indian side.
Our policies are basically reactive policies. Things have improved slightly; they have started issuing multiple one year visas. I know about the Indian side initiative as well. Likewise, Pakistan has issued multiple visas for yearlong to Indians, but that’s not enough. In my opinion, for both sides it is peanuts. We have to liberalize the visa regime; only then can trade flourish between the two countries. (KNN/SD)
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