Pakistan to bolster agri-trade

Focuses on enhancing ties with Turkiye, explores new markets

KARACHI:

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, while highlighting the vast potential of trade and investment in the agriculture sector, has underscored that Pakistan is determined to bolster economic and trade relations with Turkiye.

He was speaking at a breakfast meeting hosted on Friday in honour of a Turkish delegation, led by Minister for Trade Professor Dr Omer Bolat, which arrived in Pakistan to participate in the FoodAg Expo 2024.

The commerce minister underlined the importance of trade and investment in agriculture, food and agri-products as such opportunities were being showcased in the FoodAg Expo.

"The leadership of both countries is determined to further strengthen trade and economic ties with a futurist approach for progress and prosperity of people of both sides," he remarked.

The minister added that Pakistan's government was focusing on enhancing the trade volume with current partners and was also exploring opportunities in new markets.

The government is encouraging and facilitating business-to-business (B2B) linkages and exchange of delegations to identify the potential of trade in varying sectors.

Referring to recent interactions and agreements with public and private-sector companies of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, China and Azerbaijan, Jam Kamal underlined that Pakistan had good business relations with the US and EU member countries. In this context, more opportunities could be explored along with Turkiye through trilateral arrangements.

Sharing his views on the occasion, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat expressed keen interest in bolstering economic and trade ties with Pakistan. In this regard, a delegation comprising representatives of business, industry, exporters and investors is present in Pakistan to explore opportunities through B2B meetings, road shows and interaction with business forums and high officials.

"Both Turkiye and Pakistan are considered as one nation due to their historical, cultural and religious ties," he remarked and stressed the need for leveraging those sentiments to boost trade.

The Turkish minister pointed out that governments of both countries were laying the foundation of tapping new avenues of progress and development and they were determined to take bilateral relations in services, manufacturing, trade and other sectors to new highs.