Islamabad, September 18:

A visiting delegation of the Indian Merchant Chamber (IMC) and two trade bodies of Pakistan agreed to promote trade between the two countries. The IMC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) for strengthening relations and for promoting trade ties between India and Pakistan. The IMC and the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), meanwhile, agreed in principle to form an Indo-Pak Trade Committee to enhance bilateral trade, reports Online news agency.

A 40-member delegation of the IMC headed by its president Rajesh Kapadia met ICCI president Tariq Sadiq, senior vice president Muzammil Sabri and vice-president Khalid Mahmood Chaudhary. Under the leadership of Pakistan president General Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan and Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, both the countries were producing better economic results, said Sadiq. The recent meeting would bring fruitful results for normalisation of trade and cultural relations, he said appreciating the efforts of the ICCI in establishing a dry port in Islamabad.