Business

Pakistan to use Tajikistan as gateway to Europe

Setting up a warehouse to promote trade between the two countries.

Kashif Hussain June 01, 2011

DUSHANBE:

Pakistani traders want to use Tajikistan as a gateway for easy access to central Asian states, Russia and Poland in a bid to capture international markets.

Tariq Iqbal Puri, while leading a trade delegation to Tajikistan, said Pakistani products can be promoted by setting up a warehouse in the central Asian country. He said instead of letters of credit, Tajik traders could strike deals on cash or credit after physical examination of goods in the warehouse.

In addition to this, he added, uninterrupted contacts and visits of traders of both sides were also necessary. He said Tajik traders would be invited to Expo Pakistan scheduled to be held in October.

Bilateral trade between Tajikistan and Pakistan is limited to $21.5 million but there is tremendous potential here. There is a lack of communications and transportation arrangements, banking links and interest of government and China, India, Iran and Afghanistan are taking full benefit of the situation.

FPCCI President Senator Haji Ghulam Ali said it was the first time that such a large delegation was visiting Tajikistan with representatives from all the provinces, Fata and northern areas. “There will be far-reaching effects of the visit,” he said.

Plan to set up cement plant

Pakistani investors have also expressed interest in investing in the cement sector in Tajikistan and initial talks have been concluded. The Baig Group will take advantage of cement demand in Tajikistan and will invest Rs2 billion in setting up a plant with a capacity to produce one million tons.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2011.

COMMENTS (1)

Sunatullah Jonbobo | 13 years ago | Reply Very good news! But the actions should move faster, not just words...20 years passed after the colupse of Soviet Union, but we are still talking and talking...All we know that Central Asia and Indian subcontinent have common history, they are sharing similar cultural traditions and mentality. For current time they have to be more energetic, dynamic, not wasting the time and resources just for speeches and words. The big obstacle in this process is not well established relations between two brotherhood countries, in the past one, but now separated India and Pakistan. I think the time is now to bring big changes and avoid implementing collonalisitic mentality which was imposed on these nations and sadly till now functioning: it was divide and rule policy. Let's do something different from the 20 c., which was dominated by cold war ideology, think about future generations as do European nations. We have to learn from others. Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan and India are the heart of Asia and they are responsible for it future and destiny. Another threat disturbing all of us is extremism, particularly the Islamic radicalism which is also has roots in outside of this region, serving the benefits/interests of some shaikhs of Saudis and some superpowers, not this region, the interest of local people in this area. We don't need for another totalitarian ideology and system, - we need freedom within pluralistic system. It should be integration, but not unification! Integration of this region is very important not just for these countries, but it will have positive effect on the rest of the world. The World is in the process of positive changes... So, we have to be more reasonable and pragmatic and use our values, social and cultural capital for regional development, economical and cultural integrations, not for the destruction, isolation, antagonism etc.. We have to create Bridges, not the Walls....The road to this kind of development will be not easy, but it is possible! North and sough have to be connected as well as east and the west. It is natural process, but for this time we need to be more smart and careful....

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