NEW DELHI, 31 July 2007 — India and Pakistan, keen on enhancing economic and commercial cooperation, have planned a number of meetings this week to discuss bilateral issues.
The two countries will begin two-day talks today focusing on issues seen as obstacles. This will be followed by a meeting of the joint study group on Aug. 2.
Attending the meetings will be Commerce Secretary G.K. Pillai on the Indian side and his Pakistani counterpart Syed Asif Ali Shah. The talks are part of the fourth round of the composite dialogue process.
Within four years, Indo-Pak trade has increased from $200 million to $1.7 billion, prompting the two sides to consider greater cooperation in this area.
Pakistan is also expected to express its concern about trade imbalance with India. India’s exports are said to touch $1.3 billion, while imports from Pakistan are $377 million.
The two sides will also discuss ways of easing trade restrictions, opening of bank branches in each other’s country and exporting cement from Pakistan to India.
They will also take up the issue of visas for businessmen.
