Mr. Tariq Sayeed, President SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SAARC CCI) has appreciated the recent statement of Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India for resuming talks with on core issues between Indian and Pakistan including Kashmir and has termed is as a welcome statement, which will help bring about desired peace in the region.

President SAARC CCI said that resuming dialogue between two major countries of South Asia will positively affect the trade between two countries, which will be instrumental to foster regional economic cooperation.

He said the Government of Pakistan has taken certain initiatives like increase in number of importable items from India from 400 to 1938 within last five years, encouraging trade through Wagha Border and transformation of Line of Control intro trade-line and allowing of Investment from India on case-to-case basis and urged upon the Government of India to come forward and sign Bilateral Investment Treaty with Pakistan.

He said that such initiative from India will have multiplier effect on bilateral trade, which was growing below par with the potential available. "I am making earnest efforts to get Investment included in the document of SAFTA that presently was limited to the trade of Goods only" said Mr. Sayeed and added that Investment Treaty on Regional level will be an effective tool that will bind two countries to encourage India and Pakistan to promote investment in each other country. Presently Pakistan is the only country in South Asia, which has been placed in the negative list of India.

He said that intra-regional trade in SAARC was growing at snail pace and hoped that resolution of issues between India and Pakistan will help foster the pace. Pakistan 's trade with South Asian countries particularly with India has been growing steadily and now more than 8% trade of Pakistan is directed to SAARC, which is likely to increase rapidly.

President SAARC CCI said that Kashmir was the singular issue, which has been impeding economic cooperation between two countries, which need to be resolved in true spirit.