(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesman)
Following the meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom and Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri in Istanbul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Ehud Olmert approved the temporary waiving of the requirement for an import license, as a prerequisite for importing goods from Pakistan.
The exemption, which smoothes the way for imports from Pakistan, was approved against the background of a warming up of relations between Israel and Pakistan. Officials at the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Industry and Trade hope that this step, which indicates Israel's desire to promote commercial and economic ties with Pakistan, will enhance the process of building relations between the two states.
Pakistan is a developing country with a population of about 150 million people. Pakistan's economy is based on agriculture and traditional industry, dominated by the textile industry (80% of total Pakistani exports).
Until now, trade between Israel and Pakistan was extremely limited and subject to constraints and licenses in both countries. The warming up of relations is expected to result in positive developments in the realm of trade and commerce.