Ivanova calls on Dawood to enhance trade

ISLAMABAD: Bulgarian Economy deputy minister Liliya Ivanova, along with her delegation, called on Commerce, Textile, Industries and Production and Investment (CTIPI) advisor to prime minister Abdul Razak Dawood on Monday, the delegation is in Pakistan to hold the second session of inter-governmental commission in order to enhance the trade and economic relations.

According to an official statement, Ivanova appreciated the current government’s efforts to introduce business friendly policies in Pakistan which will facilitate the investors.

She said in agriculture sector it is important to establish linkages between relevant institutions for livestock breeding, joint ventures in food processing, research and development.

“Cooperation in tourism, information technology, education, maritime and aviation sectors will also be explored during the intergovernmental commission session,” Ivanova mentioned.

Dawood held, “The government is fully committed to introduce more business friendly reforms countrywide to attract more investments.”

Both sides agreed that the current trade volume between the two countries is far below than the actual potential, so there is a lot for enhancing trade and economic relations between the two countries.

Dawood mentioned that the ease of doing business reforms is the top most priority of the incumbent regime and that this is the right time to invest in various sectors of the Pakistani economy.

He extended invitation for Bulgarian investors to come and invest in Pakistan especially in the areas of automobiles, engineering and agriculture.

Dawood stressed on the need to enhance Pakistan’s exports of citrus fruits, mango, rice and raw cotton, surgical equipments and handicrafts to the Bulgarian market.

He thanked the delegation and extended government’s full cooperation and support to facilitate Bulgarian investors and in enhancing bilateral trade and economic relations between the two countries.

Bulgaria is a member of the European Union (EU), North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), and the Council of Europe; it is a founding State of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and has taken a seat in the United Nations (UN) Security Council three times.

Bulgarian market economy is part of the European single market and mostly relies on services; followed by industry, especially machine building and mining and agriculture.

Agricultural cooperation is included in the agenda of the second meeting of Pakistan-Bulgaria inter-ministerial commission being hosted by Pakistan on May 20-21, 2019.

Major areas of cooperation include livestock and buffalo breeding, food processing, food safety and phytosanitary measures.