By IANS,
Islamabad : The US is firmly committed to building strong commercial relations with Pakistan, says US Ambassador Cameron Munter.
“Pakistan has huge long-term potential for commercial growth in its large, diverse market,” Munter told members of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI).
Pakistan is currently US’ 57th largest goods trading partner with $5.4 billion in total (two way) goods trade during 2010. Goods exports totalled $1.9 billion and imports stood at $3.5 billion. The US goods trade deficit with Pakistan was $1.6 billion in 2010.
“The United States is firmly committed to its partnership with Pakistan, and building strong commercial relations, emphasizing trade, not just aid, is a critical part of that relationship,” Associated Press of Pakistan quoted Munter as saying.
He advised Pakistan entrepreneurs to realise their full potential in their country’s economic growth.
US-Pakistan ties have been hit following the May 2 killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad. The relationship soured further when US accused Pakistan’s spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence, of assisting the Haqqani Network that targeted American interests in Afghanistan.
The ties were back in focus when it emerged that a secret memo was handed over to Washington in which President Asif Ali Zardari feared a military coup.