Pakistan keen to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation with Sri Lanka

Nov 27, Colombo: The newly elected government in Pakistan said it is keen to strengthen economic relationship with Sri Lanka which is one of the most important neighbors in the region.

At the 11th Session of Sri Lanka - Pakistan Joint Economic Commission held in Colombo Wednesday Pakistan's Federal Minister for Industries and Production Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi said Pakistan government is Pakistan is mindful of the fact that existing cordial and friendly relations between the two countries can be further translated into substantial economic and commercial cooperation.

Minister Jatoi represented Pakistan at the forum while Minister for Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiyutheen represented Sri Lanka.

 The Pakistani Federal Minister expressed the hope that deliberations of this Joint Economic Commission would prepare concrete and significant recommendations to advance further growth in various areas of mutual interests.

In his remarks, Minister Bathiyutheen said Sri Lanka and Pakistan have been enjoining extremely cordial relations as Pakistan has been a very close and genuine friend of Sri Lanka. He noted that both the countries are connected by deep rooted mutual cooperation, while sharing common views on many bilateral, regional and international issues. Both the nations have always stood by each other, in much needed and difficult times, the Minister added.

As a follow up to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's offer to assist Sri Lanka in sugar sector, the Minister for Industries and Productions Pakistan called on Sri Lankan Minister for Sugar Industry Development, Lakshman Seneviratne. The two Ministers had detailed discussion about prospects of enhanced bilateral cooperation and agreed to collaborate closely in setting up sugar industries in Sri Lanka with the assistance of Pakistan.

The Pakistani side agreed to the Sri Lankan proposal for charting out and formalizing cooperation between the Sugar Research Institutes of the two countries with the signing of a MoU for cooperation.

In a separate development, Minister Jatoi also called on Sri Lankan Minister for Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa in the afternoon. The two Ministers discussed a whole gamut of issues to bolster economic ties between the two countries. The Minister of Industries and Productions expressed appreciation on behalf of the government of Pakistan for the vision with which President Rajapaksa is developing Sri Lanka's national economy.

Minister Rajapaksa while thanking the support extended by Pakistan to Sri Lanka urged Pakistan government to explore the possibility of cooperation between the two countries in pharmaceutical sector. He also expressed Sri Lankan government's resolve to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

The Minister for Industries and Production also invited the Sri Lankan Minister for Economic Development to visit Pakistan which the Sri Lankan Minister accepted.