ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Commerce in collaboration with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan held second Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conference (PATDC) in Lagos, Nigeria, a statement said.
The conference and exhibition will be a three-day affair and it end on November 25.
Under “Look Africa Policy” various initiatives have been taken by the Ministry of Commerce to enhance trade relations with the African states. Second PATDC has been organised in Lagos, Nigeria, aiming at enhancing the commercial ties with the member states of the Economic Community of West Africa.
ECOWAS is a 15-member regional group with a mandate to promote economic integration. The member countries, constituting ECOWAS are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo.
Nigeria being the largest economy in the ECOWAS and is extremely important to enhance commercial and institutional linkages with member states and was accordingly selected for holding of the second of series of PATDC.
The conference was attended by prominent Pakistani businessmen, representing various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, chemicals, tractors/agriculture machinery, cosmetics, IT services, sports goods, food, electronics and engineering goods.
Business and official delegates from the ECOWAS member states also attended the conference and single country exhibition.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood led the 232-member business delegation along with senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
During the three-day event various B2B, G2G and B2G meetings will take place on the sidelines of the conference and single country exhibition.
The conference was also attended by various representatives of the Nigerian government, including Lagos State governor, federal minister for industry, trade and investment, minister of information and culture minister of special duties and intergovernmental affairs and senior officials from Standards Organization Nigeria, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration, Nigerian Investment Commission and others.
Nigerian Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture president also attended the conference.
Addressing the conference, Dawood stressed that given the concrete opportunities that exist between the two sides, Pakistan-Africa trade could easily be increased manifolds in the coming years.
Despite challenges, there would be a steady, gradual but persistent growth in Pakistan-Africa trade with enhanced level of engagement by both sides, public officials, as well as the private sector, he added.
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