PM invites Tajik businessmen to invest in Pakistan

Addresses business forum during visit to Tajikistan

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan has invited Tajik businessmen to invest in Pakistan.

Addressing the Pakistan-Tajikistan Business Forum on Thursday, he appreciated the cheap hydropower generated by Tajikistan and said that Pakistan expected early materialisation of the CASA-1000 project.

The prime minister appreciated the signing of business deals and memoranda of understanding (MoUs).

He told the forum that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was extremely important for regional connectivity and Pakistan would work together with Tajikistan and other neighbouring countries of Afghanistan to support the peace process, progress and prosperity.

The prime minister added that the advancement of these objectives would also enhance connectivity and benefit the region.

The business forum was organised by the Ministry of Commerce and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). A total of 67 companies from Pakistan and more than 150 Tajik companies participated in the forum.

A large number of B2B meetings were held among companies representing textiles, pharmaceuticals, leather, fruits and vegetables, processed food, transport and logistics, construction, education, tourism and mining.

Fifteen MoUs were signed for joint ventures and many orders were booked by Pakistani exporters.

Addressing the Pakistan-Tajikistan Business Forum, Adviser to PM on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood said that the objective was regional connectivity and enhanced regional trade.

Read Deal with Tajikistan to be signed soon

He said that the visit of president of Tajikistan to Pakistan in June this year provided impetus to the historic ties between the two countries.

“We want to follow examples of Asean and EU in enhancing intra-regional trade and connectivity.”

He said, “You trade through our seaports and we will trade through your land routes. There are a lot of challenges and it will take time, but we need to work together to overcome these problems. We want to have joint ventures in textile, pharmaceutical and logistics sectors.”

Dawood added that the private sector was the engine and driver of growth. “I want to tell the business community that we are here in Tajikistan to make it easy for you to enter Central Asian markets and we are exploring all the sectors.”

On the sidelines of the business forum, the fourth meeting of Tajikistan-Pakistan Business Council was also held. Cooperation in textile, pharmaceutical and logistics sectors was discussed in the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2021.

Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.