Tunisia’s Trade Minister will visit Pakistan in “near future” to sign the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
This “will mark a major milestone in strengthening economic ties between the two countries, paving the way for increased cooperation and mutual benefit,” Tunisia’s acting ambassador to Pakistan Dorsaf Maaroufi was quoted as saying by Islamabadpost.
She said this while giving a presentation in Islamabad at the Chamber House on Thursday about the forthcoming ‘Festival of Coffee, being held from October 1-5, 2024 and the 10th OIC Halal Expo-2024, scheduled from 8-12 October 2024 in Tunisia.
Both mega events will provide a distinctive opportunity to the investors especially the Pakistani businessmen to foster business to business relations between the two countries, she pointed out.
She expressed the hope that Pakistani businessmen in general and those belonging to ICCI will especially take part in large numbers to explore new avenues of cooperation.
On his part Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that Pakistan-Tunisia Preferential Trade Agreement will unlock vast openings for the Pakistani business fraternity.
“Therefore, the ICCI will advocate for the earliest signing of the agreement,” he pointed out, adding during the last few years, there has been growing focus on the African continent from Pakistan.
The “Engage Africa” policy was launched by Pakistan in 2019, setting a clear direction for future interaction with Africa, he added.
He said that “Tunisia is a country of great importance in terms of geographic proximity, which on one side is connected to developed European countries and on the other at the crossroads of emerging African markets, which could create opportunities for Pakistani economy and trade.”
