LONDON (Haseeb Arslan) – UK legislator James Daly, the UK PM's trade envoy for Pakistan, has emphasised the need for boosting business ties with Pakistan, stating that he wanted to put Sialkot prominently on the trading map of Britain.
Speaking at a networking reception hosted by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce in honour of a ten-member delegation from the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI), Daly highlighted Sialkot's production of high-quality goods and the significant potential for manufacturers in the UK's sports market.
The British lawmaker stressed that fostering partnerships in the UK would boost business relations with Pakistan, noting that establishing strategic long-term partnerships would require a solid relationship between the two countries.
Among the attendees were numerous businessmen from Manchester and foreign traders. Dignitaries included British parliamentarian Afzal Khan, Pakistan-Britain Business Council (PBBC) CEO Rashid Iqbal, Pakistan's Consul General in Manchester Muhammad Tariq Wazir and Pakistan High Commission in London’s Trade Minister Shafiq Ahmed Shahzad.
The visit of the SCCI delegates to the UK was organised by the Pakistan High Commission.
During the event, British parliamentarian Afzal Khan warmly welcomed the SCCI delegation, highlighting the potential for the 230,000 Pakistanis living in Manchester to serve as a bridge with Sialkot and stressing the importance of skilled manpower exchanges between the UK and Pakistan.
In his address, Shafiq Ahmed Shahzad, the trade minister at Pakistan High Commission in London, noted that Pakistan-UK bilateral trade stood at around $3 billion annually, primarily in textiles.
He highlighted the UK's significant potential for Pakistani products and the efforts of the Pakistan High Commission to facilitate connections between Pakistani and British traders.
Ikramul Haq, leading the SCCI delegation, mentioned that Sialkot-based industries supplied materials for over 100 world-class brands globally, with Sialkot accounting for 70% of the world's football manufacturing and exporting products worth billions annually.
He expressed gratitude to the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce for hosting them and to the Pakistan High Commission for facilitating networking with UK-based businessmen.
Later, a networking session was held wherein UK-based businessmen expressed keen interest in products manufactured by Pakistani businessmen, including leather goods, surgical instruments, sportswear, footballs, cricket bats and balls.