Chisinau hosts business forum Moldova – Pakistan

Chisinau, 31 March /MOLDPRES/ – The businessmen from Moldova and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan have gathered, in an economic forum today in Chisinau.

The event was organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of Moldova and Moldova's Honorary Consulate in Pakistan and was aimed at enhancing trade and economic relations between Moldova-Pakistani identifying new business opportunities, establish direct contacts of collaboration between businessmen of two countries and attract investment.

"The purpose of the Forum is to strengthen bilateral economic relations, present business opportunities and obtain information about accessing the Pakistani market and establishing cooperation contacts", said in his opening remarks, Sergiu Harea, Chairman of CCI.

The source said that "statistics attest that the potential economic and commercial cooperation between Moldova and Pakistan is not fully utilized in that regard, requiring joint efforts to create favorable conditions necessary for the harmonious development of business relations between companies in these two countries".

In this context, Alexandru Codreanu, head of the General Directorate of bilateral cooperation of the Foreign Ministry, said that "this economic forum is a long-term commitment to a broad range of programmes in the fields of bilateral trade and investment, aimed at approaching representatives of business communities of both countries. This first attempt to organize a business mission to Pakistan in our country can serve as a model for other Honorary Consulates of the Republic of Moldova abroad," said Codreanu.

At his turn, Mehmood Mian, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Moldova in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and expressed confidence that talks and bilateral meetings between participants would contribute to establish new cooperation and expanding trade and economic relations between the two countries.

The diplomat said that Pakistan was interested in importing fresh fruit and vegetables, exchange of experience in medicine, IT, telecommunications, etc. In this context, the source assured that Pakistani IT companies would come up with more investment in Moldova and sign soon a cooperation agreement with Moldtelecom company.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2016, trade between Moldova and Pakistan amounted up to $3 million, decreasing by 21 per cent compared to 2015.

(Reporter A. Mardare Alcaza L. Editor)