Ficci to lead business team to Pakistan

Our Corporate Bureau

New Delhi, May 17: IN a significant move towards second track diplomacy, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) is leading a 37-member high-powered delegation to Pakistan to explore business opportunities in sectors like pharmaceuticals, automobiles, cosmetics, tea, coffee and chemicals.

The delegation will participate in the second meeting of India-Pakistan Chambers fo Commerce and Industry on May 22, which will be followed by executive committee meeting of Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

Ficci secretary-general Amit Mitra said, “We have already consulted the government on second track efforts and the government has said that it is timely to have interaction at the business-to-business level as it will facilitate the political process.”

“The delegation will aim to convert the unofficial trade into official trade, due to which Pakistan is losing substantially”, Dr Mitra said.

Further, the visit will try to maximise trade within the current restrictions and will help bring down third country participation in trade activities.