With Pakistan and Sri Lanka expanding on their existing trade links,industrialists are now talking in terms of joint ventures in tea, Director General of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP),Iqbal Jamshed said yesterday.

Asked about the impact of the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries,he said that there was enormous potential which remains largely untapped."People are now speaking of joint ventures in tea and that fits in well with our vision of broadening the export base and upgrading product potential."

Admitting that Sri Lankan coconut oil,pineapple and vegetables were better than what was found in Pakistan,he said that his countries carpets,textiles,ladies shoes and jewellery, have a good market in Sri Lanka.

Comparing Pakistan’s wealth of resources with some other countries in the world,Jamshed said that it remains largely untapped and there was an urgent need to exploit the bounties bestowed on his country.

Citing examples,he said that animal husbandry was a widely practiced science in Pakistan,but non muslim countries such as China and South Korea were the biggest exporters of halal meat.Pakistan ranks 47th in the world.It has the largest mineral resources,but exports the least.

The TDAP, which helps the Pakistani government finalise trade policy,was targeting a 20 per cent overall increase in exports by 2010.There was no rocket science as such to achieve the goal.It boils down to investment,technology and skills development working in tandem,Jamshed added.