M`SIA SOUTH EAST ASIA`S TOP IMPORTER FROM PAKISTAN

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is the top largest importer from
Pakistan in South East Asia, posting a 31 per cent rise in import value
totalling US$124.38 million between July 2008 and June 2009.

It imported goods and services worth US$94.39 million during the same period
in 2007.

Thus, the Pakistan High Commission here urged businessmen and traders of
both
countries to fully exploit the concessions and reductions in duties and taxes
provided by the Malaysia-Pakistan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement to bring
about multifold increase in trade transactions.

In a statement Wednesday, Pakistan High Commissioner to Malaysia Lt-Gen
(Rtd) Tahir Mahmud Qazi urged Malaysian and Pakistani businessmen, traders and
investors to participate in trade exhibitions and business fairs both in
Pakistan and Malaysia to know about opportunities available.

He also invited Malaysian companies, entrepreneurs and investors to attend
the fifth edition of Expo Pakistan, the country's biggest international trade
fair, to be held in Karachi from Feb 26 to 28.


Expo Pakistan had become an emerging brand in the calendar of international
trade events and would be a one-stop sourcing platform for new business
alliances and investments through ideal networking and one-to-one business
meetings, he said.

While Malaysia was the 25th largest importer from Pakistan out of 40 top
importing countries, the former's exports to the latter also registered a 27 per
cent increase in 2008, with exports amounting to US$1.74 billion compared to
US$1.26 billion in 2007, he added.

-- BERNAMA