SIALKOT, Oct 19: Kenya and Pakistan are considering to start free trade activities.

This was stated by Kenyan High Commissioner to Pakistan, Muhammad Omar Soba, on Sunday while talking to Dawn.

Agreement to this effect would be signed between the governments of Kenya and Pakistan after the joint ministerial commission meeting scheduled to be held at Nairobi next month, Mr Soba said.

The proposed agreement would be favourable for the business community of Kenya and Pakistan.

The step was being taken for accelerating the pace of bilateral trade between both the countries.

Speaking at a press conference at a local hotel amid tight security on Saturday night, the high commission said the national day of Kenya would be celebrated in Sialkot on Monday (today).

In this connection a reception has been arranged at the auditorium of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Monday night. Invitations have been extended to Sialkot’s businessmen, exporters, politicians and parliamentarians.

This is for the first time that a foreign embassy has been celebrating it’s national day in Sialkot.

Mr Soba invited Sialkot’s exporters to explore the markets of African countries through Kenya.

The Kenyan envoy said that the possibilities were being explored to set up a Pak-Kenya business friendship society.

He stressed the need for developing closer trade ties between Kenya’s chamber of commerce and industry and the SCCI. He assured his full co-operation for further accelerating the pace of mutual trade activities between Kenya and Pakistan.

He expressed his satisfaction over the eradication of child labour from Sialkot’s export-oriented soccer ball industry. He hailed Pakistan government’s steps in this regard.

Mr Soba also invited SCCI’s delegation to visit Kenya and participate in all the major international trade fairs and exhibitions organized there.

He said that Kenya’s 70 per cent tea was exported to Pakistan. Kenya also wanted to became the biggest importer of Pakistani products.

The high commissioner said that volume of export between Kenya and Pakistan was very thin. Efforts were being made to bring big boom in the exports.

“At present, Pakistan is exporting different grades of rice, agricultural machinery, ready made garments, textile and finish leather products to Kenya but the volume is very low,” he said.

The Kenyan government had been encouraging foreign investment as it has no control over trade.

The high commissioner said there existed wide opportunities for Pakistani investors to set up joint ventures with their Kenyan counterparts or establish individual business in his country.

The joint ventures could be established in the agricultural tools and implements, finish leather products, rice, textile and sports goods sectors.

The Kenyan high commissioner said that Sialkot has a special repute for its quality products and craftsmanship. “The business community of this city has the capability and potential to capture the Kenyan market more easily.”

The high commissioner also announced that an official visit of Sialkot-based journalists to Kenya would be arranged soon.

SCCI President Tahir Majeed Kapur and office-bearers of other trade organizations were also present at the press conference.

Earlier, Mr Soba visited various industrial units in Sambrial (Daska), Uggoki and Sialkot.