Gold & Gems Art Promotion Council of Pakistan President Muhammad Ahmad said  Pakistan and India have great potential in gems and jewellery sector which could be a milestone in developing economies if serious steps are taken to bring both sides’ businessmen close to each. He urged Indian High Commissioner to play his due role for the development of gems and jewellery sector between both countries.
He expressed these views during an event “ Business Opportunities in India” held on February 15, 2016 at Serena Hotel Islamabad. He said this step is good for bilateral trade. Indian High Commission had invited him, many other Pakistani businessmen and representatives of different chambers of the country.
On this occasion, Indian High Commissioner Shri Gautam Bambawale thanked Pakistani businessmen for their participation. In his address, Mr. Bambawale said that the event would help Pakistani businessmen to find out business opportunities in India, to share details of forthcoming exhibitions/events in India and to brief about visa guidelines to facilitate visits of Pakistani businessmen to India aimed to further strengthen bilateral trade.  
He said the government of India had initiated various trade promotional activities and opportunities including ‘Make in India’, ‘Tech India’, ‘Digital India’ and skill India’.  Mr. Bambawale urged Pakistani businessmen to capitalize on India’ s growing market to sell more of your goods and products there and through such trade contribute to the prosperity of Pakistan. He said current statistics, bilateral trade between India and Pakistan was at mere US$ 2. 35 billion in 2014 and 2015. This is an abysmally low figure for two large expanding economies such as ours, he said adding that  some of our bilateral trade take place through third countries mainly Dubai. He suggested that when the India-Pakistan dialogue commences, perhaps we should focus on enhancing trade and economic relations between our countries. He further said he had many interesting conversations with businessmen and businesswomen of Pakistan and was happy to see their confidence to sell Pakistan’s goods and products in Indian markets. They were not afraid of any kind of flood of Indian goods into Pakistan, said Bambawale.
He said that one question which will naturally come to your mind is that how can business take place when getting a visa is so difficult. He said it is a legitimate question. He said there is little doubt in his mind that if they have to encourage greater trade ties between our countries, the two governments will have to sit together and work out a more liberal visa regime. He said he thought it was possible. He thought  this was probable. More importantly, he thought  this was doable.
On this occasion, they also presented a recorded speech of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the participants in which he also emphasized on bilateral trade between both countries.
Vice President of GGAPCP Muhammad Alamgir and Vice President (Gems sector)  Irfan Salahuddin took part in the event.