Africa and Pakistan are to partner up in order to strengthen business ties, Dean of the African Corps and Ambassador of Morocco to Pakistan Mohammed Karmoune said.

The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), in a bid to facilitate the business community in the exploration of new opportunities on the African continent, has opened up a help desk. The desk was inaugurated by the Dean of the African Corps and Ambassador of Morocco to Pakistan, Mohammed Karmoune.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that Africa was the continent of the future and there was huge potential for Pakistan to enhance trade and exports with it as well as explore joint ventures and investment in the African region of 55 countries.

The Sudanese ambassador, Salih Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed Siddig, the Nigerian high commissioner, Mohammed Bello Abioye, and the South African high commission's counsellor, Philip Riley, were also present at the event.

The African diplomats were briefed by Muhammad Shakeel Munir, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, about the aims and objectives of opening an Africa Facilitation Desk at ICCI. He said that the Desk would work to provide business-related information to the business community so that they could be assisted in capitalizing on opportunities for trade, exports, business and investment in the African market.

At the occasion, Jamshaid Akhtar Sheikh, Senior Vice President, Muhammad Faheem Khan, Vice President ICCI, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, newly elected President of ICCI, Zafar Bakhtawari, former President of ICCI, and others also spoke. They appreciated that Ethiopia was going to start direct flights with Pakistan and stressed that other African countries should also start direct flights with Pakistan as it would help in promoting trade, tourism, people-to-people contacts, and business and investment relations between Pakistan and the African region.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk