Opening the door : South Korea urges free trade agreement

Ambassador says Buddhist sites in K-P are sacred to Koreans.

PESHAWAR: Ambassador of Republic of South Korea Jong Hwan Song said there was room to increase trade volume between his country and Pakistan.

He said lack of a free trade agreement and people to people contact meant there were communication gaps. Nationals of both countries were unable to understand each other’s culture and traditions.

Song was speaking at the Express Forum on Tuesday after visiting Peshawar Museum and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KPCCI). He conveyed his country’s’ sympathies to the families of those who lost loved ones in the earthquake on Monday.



The ambassador added both countries had historic links. He said statues at Peshawar Museum bore a close resemblance to those found in his country. Song pointed out historians generally believed K-P and other surrounding areas were the centre of Buddhism and there are still places in the province which are sacred to the Koreans.

He stressed a free trade agreement should be signed between Pakistan and Korea to increase transactions between the two countries. The ambassador said this would also provide a chance for people to get closer to each other.

“We are working on several projects, especially those related to electricity generation in K-P.”  Song revealed Korea would provide education scholarships to increase contact with the people.

He said in 2003, bilateral trade between the two countries was $3 billion and today that figure dropped to $ 1.7 billion. Song said Korean companies were working on the hydroelectric power stations in Chitral, Malakand and Timergara.

At the KPCCI office, the Korean ambassador was briefed on existing economic opportunities in the province that could draw foreign investors.

KPCCI President Zulfiar Ali Khan was disappointed over the slim volume of trade between the countries. Khan agreed with Song over the proposal to introduce a free trade agreement and an increase in people to people contact.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2015.