Pak, Tunisia sign 4 accord to enhance trade
By Asad Cheema

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan and Tunisia inked four bilateral agreements to further enhance cooperation in industrial, science and technology fields besides cooperating in cultural as well as tourism sectors. The two countries were also hopeful to enhance the bilateral trade volume from US$ 25 million annually to US $ 200-300 million during next four years.
The agreements were signed at the conclusion of two-day Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) session here on Tuesday. Mushtaq Ali Cheema, Minister for Textile Industry and Nauraiz Shakoor, Federal Minister for Science and Technology signed the agreements on behalf of Pakistan while Afif Chelbi, Minister for Industry, Energy, Small and Medium Size Enterprises, Tunisia signed the agreement on behalf of his government.
These included agreement on industrial cooperation, executive programme for cooperation in the field of science and technology, executive programme for cultural cooperation 2007-09 and agreement for cooperation in the field of tourism. The two sides also approved the minutes of the 6th session of Pak-Tunisia JMC.
Speaking on the occasion, Mushtaq Ali Cheema said that the agreements would help both the countries to enhance their cooperation in the related fields and would also help Pakistan to enhance its exports for Tunisia. However, he added, “both the countries need to do hard work to make these efforts productive and meaningful.”
He said, “I am confident the agreements will help boost the bilateral cooperation and will provide an extensive ground for enhancing the relations.” Afif Chelbi, speaking on the occasion, expressed satisfaction over the bilateral relations with Pakistan. He said that Tunisia, which would enjoy Euro-Mediterranean partnership and envisaging free trade area by 2010, offers a host of opportunities to Pakistani exporters to enhance their export.
He said that his country wanted to enhance its integrated economic cooperation with Arab and Muslim world. He said that he had held meetings with Prime Minister of Pakistan and several ministers, adding that it was agreed during the meetings that the present bilateral volume of trade would be enhanced many-fold.
To a question about enhancing trade volume from US $ 25 million to 200-300 million, Afif said that textile sector can play an pivotal role in this regard. It may be recalled that during the two-day course of discussion, it was decided that Constitution of Joint Business Council, in furtherance of MoU signed between FPCCI and UTICA in 2002, would be completed within a period of one month.
Both the countries agreed to exchange list of tradable goods within 90 days. Constitution of a Joint Working Group (JWG) on Industrial Cooperation was also agreed. The JWG to be notified by December 31, 2007, would provide impetus to cooperation in establishment of joint ventures in the field of industry including SMEs.
Constitution of a study group was also proposed to specifically examine and address all issues relating to textile, apparel industry and trade. The draft plan of the action of the group would be completed within 90 days. The Pakistani side had also invited Tunisian Investment in textile and garment cities being established in Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi.
Creation of Joint Working Groups on Science and Technology were also proposed during the two-day discourse to act as the focal bodies having focused approach to these sectors.
Enhancement of cooperation in the fields of telecommunication, information technology, health, education, tourism, culture and human resource development was also discussed during the session.