Associated Press of Pakistan
Thursday April 4, 2019
LAHORE: Somalian Government is planning to hold a Single Country
Exhibition of Pakistani products in Somalia during the month of June of
this year.
It was revealed by the Deputy Commercial Attache of Somalia Abdifitah
AbdulKadir Osman while talking to businessmen here at Lahore Chamber of
Commerce & Industry (LCCI) Wednesday.
LCCI Vice President Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigal also spoke on the
occasion, while Mian Zahid Javed, Shahzad Azam Khan, Rehmatullah Javed
were also present.
Deputy Commercial Attache said that no international exhibition has been held ever in Somalia.
He said that there is no Expo Centre there in Somalia and for local exhibitions they book hotels.
So that, they want guidance from the Lahore Chamber of Commerce &
Industry as it is a largest & leading chamber of Commerce in
Pakistan.
There is a need to remove the interaction gap between the business communities of the two countries.
Pakistani business community has not yet explored the potential in Somalian Market due to lack of information.
He said that Pakistani products are coming in Somalia via other countries.
He said that direct trade would be equally beneficial for the both countries.
He said that a large number of Somalis are getting education in Pakistan.
At present, 25 members in Parliament of Somalia are graduated from Pakistani Universities.
LCCI Vice President Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigal suggested establishment
of ‘Pakistan Somalia Business Council’ that would help business to
business interactions of people of both sides and would help hold this
exhibition.
He said that Pakistan has huge export potential in sports good,
textile items, Surgical equipment, rice, processed food and
pharmaceutical sectors.
It is worth noticing that bilateral trade between Pakistan and
Somalia is following an increasing trend and it is also in favour of
Pakistan.
From 2017 to 2018, the level of bilateral trade went up from dollar
50.2 million to dollar 57.7 million due to 15 per cent rise in exports
of Pakistan to Somalia.
Pakistan’s exports to Somalia consist of rice, sugar and pharmaceutical products etc.
LCCI Vice President said, “We have the capacity to meet the demands
of Somalia for home appliances, electrical items, motorbikes, articles
of apparel and plastics etc.”