The Hindu : Pak. business team arrives

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 14, 2003

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Pak. business team arrives

By Sandeep Joshi

CEOs from Pakistan cross into India at the Wagah border on Saturday to participate in the `India-Pakistan CEOs Business Forum' organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry. — Photo: V.V. Krishnan

WAGAH BORDER (AMRITSAR) SEPT. 13. A high-power Pakistani business delegation arrived in India today to a warm welcome by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to prepare the ground for "stronger and sustainable" business ties between the two neighbours.

``We have come together to restructure our relations — day-by-day, brick-by-brick. Both the nations need to complement each other. We need to hold meaningful dialogues without high expectations. Our shift will be more towards economic issues and less towards politics," said the CII president, Anand Mahindra, and the head of the 18-member Pakistani delegation, Amin Hashwani.

Corporate leaders and businessmen of both sides will be holding a daylong brainstorming session in the capital, besides launching the `India-Pakistan CEO's Business Forum' and a website to facilitate business ties. "It is because of the joint efforts of the CII and the Young Presidents' Organisation (YPO), a global body of top businessmen, this day has become a reality," said Mr. Mahindra, adding that the Confederation has also proposed to organise an exhibition to showcase ``Made in Pakistan'' products and services in India.

The Pakistani businessmen, accompanied by their spouses, represent various sectors of their economy, including textile, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, sugar, automobiles, financial services, insurance, paper, and fertilizer. Stating that they have been fully backed by their Government, the Pakistani delegates said they had come to build an atmosphere of trust and confidence.

"We want to enhance networking opportunities between the two nations, facilitate relationship building, engagement and information sharing, improve discussions on policy and procedures and increase trade and investment promotion," they said adding, "We also want to become a bridge between the two Governments and facilitate people-to-people and business-to-business ties. Our dream is to see the borders sans barriers. Though, at present the given parameters may be limited, we hope to multiply it manifolds."

Stating that there were apprehensions on the Pakistani side about opening its borders to its neighbours, the Indian business leaders think that similar fears were aired when stronger Sino-Indian ties were initiated a few years ago. "It has greatly benefited both the nations. Similarly, Indo-Pakistan trade ties will not only benefit both of us, but will also open the floodgates of development and progress for the entire region," they asserted, informing that already, a detailed study to find out areas of cooperation between the two nations had been initiated.

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