By Faiza Tehseen ISLAMABAD, April 18 (INP-WealthPK): Being located in the heart of the North African region and at the crossroads of many emerging markets, the coastlines and markets of the Republic of Tunisia offer potential business avenues for Pakistan, said Tunisian envoy Borhene El Kamel to members of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) during a visit to the chamber, reports WealthPK. The Tunisian envoy invited the trade leaders to visit Tunisia to see for themselves how much business potential his country had. He said Tunisia was a trade pivot in North African region. Mutual trade would benefit both countries. He assured that the Tunisian embassy would facilitate visits of Pakistan business leaders to his country. Borhene El Kamel said Pakistan and Tunisia could cooperate in renewable technology, tourism, olive cultivation and many other sectors. Both countries could launch joint ventures in sectors like pharmaceutical, automobile, fertiliser, etc. He said a Tunisian delegation would visit Islamabad by the end of the current year to explore business opportunities. Speaking on this occasion, ICCI president Muhammad Shakeel Munir said the current trade level between the two countries is far lower than the real potential. He said geographical positions of both countries made them important trade links between various regions of the world. “Tunisia is important due to its nearness to the European Union, and it is also at the crossroads of emerging African markets. Same in the case for Pakistan as it is the gateway to Middle East, Central Asia and Chinese markets.” Meanwhile, talking to WealthPK, ICCI senior vice-president Jamshed Akhtar Sheikh said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has made Pakistan a potential hub for international trade and business. He said that Tunisian envoy’s visit reflects the interest of African market players in the region. Pakistani traders are also keen to explore the potential of African markets, he maintained, calling for starting direct flights between the two countries for promoting cultural and business ties. Jamshed Akhtar said the business community in Pakistan is seriously considering the African markets for launching their ventures. Sargodha Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Vice-President Muhammad Hasan Yousaf told WealthPK, “Tunisia is a well-diversified country in terms of trade and business. It is also a leading importer of agricultural products as well. So, being an agrarian country, Pakistan can export its valuable agricultural products there to earn precious foreign exchange.” He said that the SCCI plans to conduct an introductory session on the trade and business potential in emerging African markets. “It is time our investors and businesspeople explore the international markets to bring economic prosperity to Pakistan.” Talking about the importance of Pak-Tunisia trade, public relations officer of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zulfiqar Ahmad told WealthPK that Tunisia could prove to be an attractive market for Pakistani investors. “As Tunisia is located in the heart of North African region, Pakistan can also establish its link with the country through sea.” Moreover, Pakistani investors can build industrial units in Tunisia.”