ISLAMABAD: Bangladeshi businessmen have signed agreements worth US $8 million with Pakistan to import GFC Fans, Kinnows and Basmati Rice at EXPO 2013.

During the MoU signing ceremony held at Expo Convention at Karachi the other day said that three Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) have been finalized between Bangladeshi Buyers and Pakistani Companies in the presence of Mrs. Shahida Qaiser, Director Investment /B2B TDAP, Mr. Riazuddin Qureshi DG Board of Investment Sindh and Commercial Attache of Pakistan at Dhaka Ms Farah Farooq.

The GFC Fans has agreed to provide 150,000 fans to Nurul Islam a Bangleshi delegate representing Shuba Enterprises and Z&Z Corporation Bangladesh worth US $ 5 Million for FY 2013-14, says a statement issued by the TDAP here today.

Another major agreement amounting to US $2 million took place between M/s Tasho Entreprises Bangladesh and M/S Roshan Enterprises Pakistan for export of kinnow to Bangladesh from November this year.

M/S Tasho Enterprises who is the biggest importer of fresh fruits, vegetables, dry fruit, dates and other food items visiting Pakistan as a delegate from Bangladesh has also got a purchase order of Basmati Rice from MATCO Rice worth almost half a million dollars.

Earlier during the day, in a meeting held with Secretary TDAP, Mrs. Rabia Javery Agha the Bangladeshi delegation informed her about the Pakistani products as are having huge demand like ladies fabric and designer wear lawns, footwear, pharmaceutical raw material and medicines, spices, marble and the emerging market of mini trucks.

On the existing trade volume between Bangladesh and Pakistan which is not very impressive it was shared by the delegation that due to certain barriers to trade like restrains on business visas which the entrepreneurs from both the sides recurrently face, non-Signing of FTA between the two countries and lack of implementation of regional agreement the South Asian Free Trade Agreement in its true spirit by the two countries that the progress on increasing trade relations and business remain slow.

While talking to media, Commercial Attache of Pakistan in Bangladesh informed that a 20 member delegation has arrived this year to attend the EXPO 2013 with leading importers of food, sports, surgical goods, food processing and textile raw material, machinery and plants some of whom are already importing goods from Pakistan.

Whereas, this year three buyers from other potential areas are also attending expo like marble, chain super stores/retail outlets and pharmaceutical.

She emphasized the need for more active interaction and linkages between the Chambers, Trade bodies and Associations of both the countries in promoting mutual commercial interest of both countries.