RIYADH, 27 January 2005 — The commercial counselor at the Pakistani Consulate in Jeddah has said that the Kingdom’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. Hashem Yamani will co-chair the meeting of the Saudi-Pakistan Joint Ministerial Commission (SPJMC) in Islamabad beginning on Feb. 7.
A meeting of Saudi and Pakistani businessmen representing the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce & Industry (CSCCI) and the Federal Chamber of Commerce of Pakistan will also take place on the sidelines.
Hijab Gul, the commercial counselor, also said that Dr. Yamani would lead a delegation of senior Saudi officials and businessmen. “There are four major commercial events — two at the bilateral level and two at multilateral levels — in which Riyadh and Islamabad are participating,” he said.
At the meeting, the two countries will discuss ways and means of increasing trade and setting up more joint venture projects. Senior officials from both sides will also look at ways to strengthen cooperation in the fields of scientific research, agriculture and livestock in addition to waste treatment and water management.
The Saudi side is also interested in training Saudis in Pakistan, especially in the fields of equipment maintenance, development of wire and wireless communications systems, signal systems and sea inspection systems The two countries have also indicated a willingness to cooperate in transport, tourism and postal sectors.
Referring to the ministerial meeting which will discuss a number of bilateral issues, Pervez Junejo, a Pakistani embassy official, said the talks would be held from Feb. 7-9. Humayun Akhtar Khan, Pakistan’s federal minister for commerce, will co-chair the meeting.
Gul said a number of Saudi businessmen would attend a week-long international exhibition in Karachi beginning on Feb 2.
Pakistan is one of the Kingdom’s largest trading partners but there has been a steady trade imbalance of more than $450 million in the Kingdom’s favor.
