LAHORE (Special Correspondent) – High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Pakistan, Rear Admiral (Retd.) Fred Senevirathne, has called for stronger trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, stressing the need to translate the longstanding brotherly relations between the two countries into increased commercial engagement, investment, and business partnerships. The envoy underscored that expanding bilateral trade and investment ties remains a priority for strengthening the regional economic landscape.

Key Points

• High Commissioner Fred Senevirathne invited Pakistani businessmen to explore investment opportunities available in Sri Lanka.
• LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar proposed exchanging trade delegations to identify potential partners and new avenues of cooperation.
• The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry suggested organizing single-country exhibitions to showcase products and services.
• LCCI leadership emphasized the necessity of promoting direct business-to-business (B2B) contacts and chamber-to-chamber relations.

Strengthening Pakistan-Sri Lanka Economic Relations

The High Commissioner addressed the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to advocate for enhanced bilateral collaboration. LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar presented the address of welcome and provided a detailed overview of Pakistan’s economy, while Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani and Vice President Chaudhry Khadim Hussain also spoke on the occasion.

The High Commissioner urged the private sector to leverage the existing cordial relations, noting that economic engagement should produce tangible benefits for both nations’ business communities. President Ali Hussam Asghar stated that the longstanding ties between the two countries provide a robust foundation for expanding bilateral cooperation. He suggested that both nations must exert greater efforts to convert these diplomatic relations into practical commercial ventures.

Expanding Trade and Investment Opportunities

To facilitate this growth, the LCCI President proposed the exchange of trade delegations to help businessmen understand each other’s markets. He also recommended organizing single-country exhibitions in both Pakistan and Sri Lanka to showcase products and facilitate direct business contacts.

He highlighted Lahore as a vibrant commercial hub and a significant contributor to Pakistan’s exports. He noted that stronger engagement with Sri Lankan businesses could open new avenues for Pakistani exporters, while simultaneously allowing Sri Lankan companies to explore the broader Pakistani market. Furthermore, the LCCI President underscored that sustained interaction, through regular exchanges and intra-chamber cooperation, remains vital for expanding bilateral trade.

Promoting Business-to-Business Contacts

The discussion emphasized the importance of promoting B2B contacts and strengthening formal chamber-to-chamber relations to identify areas of mutual interest. The LCCI leadership encouraged entrepreneurs from both nations to explore the establishment of business outlets in each other’s markets to improve access and strengthen their long-term commercial presence.

Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani and Vice President Chaudhry Khadim Hussain reinforced these views, discussing strategies to promote greater cooperation between the business communities. Other notable attendees included Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka Yasin Joyia, former LCCI Vice Presidents Mian Zahid Javed and Haris Atiq, along with various members of the LCCI Executive Committee, including Ms. Huma Junaid, Shahzad Ali Shah, Muhammad Ali, Shahzad Mahmood, Mardan Ali Zaidi, Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali, Amir Ata Barry, Syed Yousaf Jamil, Ali Raza, Adeel Babar Khan, and Chaudhry Muhammad Fargham.