SIALKOT: Ambassador Park Ki Jun of the Republic of Korea has encouraged Sialkot exporters to explore opportunities in Korea’s international trade markets to boost bilateral trade between Pakistan and Korea.
He shared these views during a meeting at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Friday.
The gathering included SCCI President Abdul Ghafoor Malik, Senior Vice President Wahub Jahangir, Assistant Public Diplomacy Officer Yeonjeong Yoo, and members of the Sialkot business community.
In his address, Ambassador Park emphasized Korea’s strong interest in expanding trade and economic relations with Pakistan, highlighting Pakistan’s potential as a significant business market. He suggested enhancing bilateral trade through the exchange of delegations and expressed his dedication to strengthening trade ties.
The ambassador also underlined the importance of increasing people-to-people contacts between Korean and Pakistani business communities. He praised Sialkot for its pivotal role as an export hub and its contributions to Pakistan’s economy. Park expressed eagerness to explore new collaboration opportunities and assured support for business matchmaking for South Korean visits.
Ambassador Park admired Sialkot’s export culture and the socio-economic development driven by its exporters. He also showed interest in the SCCI documentary “Sialkot, the City of Progressive People,” shown during the meeting.
President Abdul Ghafoor Malik noted that the ambassador’s visit reflects the strong Pakistan-Korea relationship. He highlighted that 2023 marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations, celebrating this milestone as a foundation for future growth.
Malik mentioned that bilateral trade currently stands at USD 1.77 billion and expressed hope for expansion. He proposed that exchanging trade delegations could foster new business opportunities. Malik also announced plans for a Sialkot delegation to visit South Korea later this year, requesting support for visa processing and business matchmaking events. He called for stronger ties between the Chambers of Commerce and suggested issuing long-term business visas for Pakistani exporters.
Ambassador Park Ki Jun appreciated Malik’s proposals and acknowledged Sialkot’s global reputation for high-quality products.
The meeting concluded with valuable suggestions from the Sialkot business community aimed at enhancing trade cooperation between the two countries.
