Consul General Tariq Karim met with Mr. Jack Lavin, President & CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. The meeting was also attended by Ms. Jan Kostner, Senior Vice President of the Chamber, Dr. Tariq Butt, Co-Chair of the Lahore-Chicago Sister-City Committee, and representatives of the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity.
During the meeting, the Consul General highlighted Pakistan as an important business and investment destination. He discussed the rapid emergence of Pakistan’s tech ecosystem, growth in Pak-US trade, and the successful businesses of over 80 U.S. enterprises in Pakistan. He shared that Pakistan’s economic and trade partnership with the Midwest region was growing.
The Consul General also emphasized investment opportunities in Pakistan, particularly in tech, energy, agriculture, mining and minerals, healthcare, and education sectors, as well as the role of the vibrant Pakistani-American business community. Briefing about the recent visit of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) delegation to Chicago and the successful holding of the 6th Pak-U.S. Business and Investment Opportunities Conference in Illinois, the Consul General proposed greater institutional linkages between the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and its counterparts in Pakistan to further bolster trade and economic ties between the two countries. He invited the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce as a leading business institution in the Chicagoland area to play a pivotal role in promoting trade and economic relations between the two sides, assuring the Consulate General’s full support.
Mr. Jack Lavin warmly welcomed the Consul General and expressed his desire to boost economic and trade ties between Pakistan and the Chicagoland region, as well as to enhance institutional linkages. He also provided an overview of the Chicagoland Chamber’s main priorities and achievements. Dr. Tariq Butt briefed about the role of the Lahore-Chicago sister committee and the scope for cooperation.
The two sides agreed to work together by taking further steps to promote economic and trade relations.
Chicago, IL
July 31, 2024
