Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI, President ECO-CCI, and VP CACCI, welcomed a high-profile Kyrgyz trade delegation to Pakistan. The visiting delegation included senior parliamentarians, diplomats, businessmen, and key stakeholders. The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) hosted the Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan Trade & Investment Forum at its head office in Karachi on Tuesday, amid growing interest from both countries' business communities, according to a statement.
Sheikh expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the recent Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan Inter-Governmental Commission, which agreed to increase bilateral trade from the current $16 million to $100 million. He noted that the present trade volume is well below the two countries' true potential.
The chief guest, Edil Baisalove, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyz Republic, told Pakistani businessmen that Kyrgyzstan is undergoing rapid industrialisation. He said this presents numerous opportunities for joint ventures, investments, and trade cooperation between the two nations.
Kylychbek Sultan, Kyrgyz Ambassador to Pakistan, said both countries are working to establish new trade routes to create a feasible and enabling environment for the bilateral trade to grow.
Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, SVP FPCCI, stressed that the shortest route from Chinese city of Kashgar to Kyrgyzstan is about 200 km; and Pakistan is also linked with this province through CPEC; whereas two Kyrgyz passes of Torugart and Erkeshtam should be utilised for establishing linkages to the warm waters of Gwadar port.
Magoon recommended holding reciprocal single-country exhibitions and regular trade delegation exchanges. He urged the immediate removal of non-tariff barriers (NTMs and NTBs) and closer coordination between FPCCI and Kyrgyzstan's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-KG).
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