KARACHI: President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Junaid Esmail Makda and Chief of Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Hisham bin Mohammed Kaaki during a meeting held at MCCI Office in Makkah agreed to work together and explore ways of developing the trade and business ties between the two countries.
According to a statement, the meeting was aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and to mull over areas of shared interests for the business communities of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
MCCI Chief Hisham bin Mohammed Kaaki said that interaction between the Saudi and Pakistani business communities can be enhanced through various mutual activities, exhibitions and joint investments.
Underscoring the need to enhance linkages between the two chambers, he said that there was a dire need to strengthen mutual cooperation, exchange of expertise, arrange bilateral visits and events, in addition to organizing forums and exhibitions to help develop private sector and result in strong ties between the entrepreneurs on both sides.
Speaking on the occasion, President KCCI Junaid Esmail Makda highlighted that Pakistan had a well-developed textile and defense industry, in addition to offering prospects in technology sector, civil engineering and other scopes of mutual interest. Organizing exhibitions would help strengthen bilateral ties indeed, he added.
The non-oil Saudi exports to Pakistan in the last five years are estimated at $4.42 billion, including food items and construction material.
The Kingdom is one of the top exporters to Pakistan, while the latter exports textile goods, cloth, processed cotton, rice, meat, fruits, vegetables, spices, leather products, electronic and chemicals to Saudi Arabia.