Pakistan, Britain to raise bilateral trade to $4 bn

Pakistan and Britain have launched a Trade and Investment Roadmap which aims to raise their bilateral trade to 2.5 billion pounds (over $4 billion) by 2015, Geo News reported.

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and his British counterpart David Cameron stated it Thursday here in a joint statement on the occasion of the First Annual Summit of the UK-Pakistan Enhanced Strategic Dialogue held in London.

Gilani is on a five-day visit to Britain since Tuesday.

“Pakistan and Britain launched a Trade and Investment Roadmap, setting out the steps both governments will take to promote investment, support business and achieve the target of increasing bilateral trade to 2.5 billion pounds by 2015,” it said.

The Pakistan prime minister pledged his government’s full support to ensure an enabling business environment to draw and sustain British trade with, and investment in, Pakistan.

He appreciated Britain’s consistent support to Pakistan for enhanced market access to the European Union.

British Prime Minister David Cameron also assured his country’s continued support in this regard, and encouraged Pakistani businesses to look at the opportunities Britain offers and its role as a gateway to Europe.