Manama: Bahrain’s growing tendencies to boost relations with Asian countries will be reinforced when King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa starts on Tuesday the first state visit by a Bahraini ruler to Pakistan.
The Royal Court said that King Hamad would be visiting Pakistan upon an invitation from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and would be holding talks with President Mamnoon Hussain and senior officials on bilateral relations and ways to reinforce cooperation in various areas.
The latest regional and international political developments and issues of common interest will also figure high on the talks, the court said as it announced the visit.
Last month King Hamad made a breakthrough visit to India that both countries described as highly successful.
King Hamad had previously visited Japan, China and Thailand.
Jauhar Saleem, the Pakistani ambassador to Bahrain, said that King Hamad’s visit was “an historic opportunity for Bahrain and Pakistan.”
“In the commercial arena, we have a trade of $400 million (Dh1.4 billion) on both sides,” he said. “Many Pakistani investors have invested heavily in Bahrain. Some of them are leading Pakistani businessmen here in Bahrain. On the other hand, many Bahrain banks have invested in Pakistan as well.”
The trade balance is heavily tilted towards Bahrain.
“It is $320 in exports from Bahrain to Pakistan and $85-90 million coming from Pakistan. However, this trade and this economic cooperation are not commensurate with the excellent political relations and friendship between the two countries, because I think $400 million are not enough. It is not too small but it is not enough, it could be raised to $1 billion or $2 billion,” the ambassador told Bahrain News Agency (BNA).
The diplomat said that the King’s visit would offer good opportunities for business in both countries.
“During this visit, there will be a big business delegation going to Pakistan and there will be big business for them there. We are very hopeful about this special initiative of signing cooperation agreement to promote investment and other important economic agreements that will be contributing in expanding commercial cooperation,” he said.
