MUSCAT — The Pakistani agricultural products fair, organised by the Chamber of Agriculture of Pakistan in collaboration with the Embassy of Pakistan in Muscat, opened yesterday at Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and lasts for two days. The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of Dr Fuad bin Jaafar al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, who said that the fair is part of the close ties that link the Sultanate with Pakistan which is rich in many agricultural products that will help in achieving food security.
He said in a statement to ONA the fair has a good variety of agricultural products that are accepted by the Omani consumers, expressing the hope that the participants find the opportunity to develop trading prospects with Omani businessmen and develop cooperative relations between the Sultanate and Pakistan.
On his part, the Pakistani Ambassador to the Sultanate said the two countries enjoy a distinctive level of bilateral relations in all fields, especially the economic and trade which in recent years have seen a significant growth, as the volume of trade between the two countries reached in 2010-2011 about $300 million, adding that the trade balance is in favour of Pakistan.
He said that the Chamber of Commerce of Pakistan and Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) have reached an agreement to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a joint Business Council to promote trade co-operation.
Ayman bin Abdullah al Hasani, Deputy Chairman of OCCI, said that the fair publicises Pakistani products, boost trade between the two countries, the creation of joint ventures and getting agents to distribute agricultural products of Pakistan in the Omani market as it comes under the Government’s keenness to enhance food security by looking for other sources of food.
He added that bilateral meetings between participants in the fair and their counterparts from the Omani businessmen will be held on the sidelines of the fair to discuss prospects for trade cooperation between them, adding that the fair comes within the framework of the objectives of OCCI and Pakistan to promote exhibitions that will promote the products in both countries. — ONA
