Anand Sharma likely to visit Pakistan next week

NEW DELHI: Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma is expected to visit Pakistan next week to inaugurate India Show and meet his counterpart Khurram Dastagir Khan to discuss ways to enhance trade and investment between the two countries.

"The Minister is likely to inaugurate an 'India Show' in Lahore and will hold bilateral meeting with Pakistani Commerce Minister Khan in Islamabad. He is expected to be in Pakistan from February 14-16," an official in the commerce ministry told PTI.

Recently, Sharma and Khan met here after a gap of over an year and both sides agreed on a non-discriminatory market access (NDMA) programme in place of the MFN regime, besides opening up the Wagah-Attari border round the clock.

Both the leaders also decided to intensify and accelerate the process of trade normalisation, liberalisation and facilitation and to implement the agreed measures before end of February.

During his likely visit, Sharma will be accompanied by DIPP Secretary Saurabh Chandra and Commerce Secretary Rajeev Kher besides other officials from the ministry.

"CEOs of few big companies are also expected to visit with the Minister. The names are yet to be finalised," the official added.

About 100 Indian companies would participate in the three-day 'India Show' beginning from February 14. It is being organised by industry body FICCI.

"This will be the second edition of the show where about 100 companies from sectors like power, hospitality, textiles and gems and jewellery would showcase their products. About 50 MSME firms would also participate in the show," a FICCI official said.

The bilateral trade between the countries stood at $2.6 billion in 2012-13.

India's main exports to Pakistan include sugar, man-made filaments and chemicals, while its imports comprise mineral fuels, among others.