The British trade minister would visit Pakistan next week to discuss bilateral trade and issues relating to UK investment in the country, said British High Commissioner Thomas Drew on Thursday.
Addressing the business community at Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) here, he said that Pakistan enjoyed friendly relations with the UK, but that was not truly reflected in their economic affairs.
He said that the UK was extending the best possible facilities in the field of education and vocational training which would certainly give a quantum jump to economic activities in Pakistan.
He said that his country was cooperating with the Punjab government in the field of education to bring about a positive socio-economic change in the province.
He said that many UK-based companies were already working in Pakistan and many were planning to make new investment particularly in the wake of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Earlier in his welcome address, President FCCI Engr Muhammad Saeed Sheikh said that trade between the two countries was progressing, but still it was not up to the mark. The trade volume in 2016 was US$2.18 billion whereas Pakistan’s exports stood at $1.557 billion against imports from UK of $0.610 billion. Thus the balance of trade was in favor of Pakistan.
Later on, he presented the FCCI shield to the British high commissioner.
