Moscow: Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said on Saturday that his Pakistani counterpart has agreed to visit India with a high-level business delegation to increase bilateral dialogues between the countries' industry chambers.
The Indian Commerce Minister was in Moscow to attend the 15th annual St Petersburg International Economic Forum meet.
"At my yesterday’s meeting with Pakistani Minister of State for Investments Saleem Mandviwalla on the margins of the St Petersburg Economic Forum, I offered to receive a high level business delegation led by my Pakistani counterpart, and this offer was accepted," Sharma told reporters in Moscow.
The dates for the delegation's visit are being worked out and it could take place by autumn this year, he said.
"The purpose of the Pakistani business delegation and captains of industry will be to put in place regular exchange mechanism between the apex commerce
and industry chambers of the two countries," Sharma said.
He said that during the Indian Commerce Secretary's visit to the neighbouring nation, Islamabad has agreed to give India Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status in accordance with South Asian Free trade Area (SAFTA) trade regime and has expressed readiness to move from 'positive list' to 'negative list' in bilateral trade.
Sharma said the direct trade between the two countries was around $ 3.5 billion, while more trade was happening indirectly.
The Indo-Pak trade and business relations should be looked not only from the bilateral perspective, but also as the part of regional economic integration in South Asia, which is also a component of overall Asian economic integration, he said.
"We are keen to impart more depth to economic cooperation with Bangladesh with focus on making it stronger, we have similar approaches in economic relations with Sri Lanka and Nepal. These relations should be seen in the context of bilateral and regional integration," Sharma said.
Meanwhile, the minister met Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who offered to provide vacant industrial premises here for the Indian pharma and auto parts producers planning to set shop in Russia.
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