Bilateral trade: Pakistan, Tajikistan chambers sign MoU

Private sectors of both countries to find areas of mutual interest

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad and Tajikistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote mutually beneficial cooperation between private sectors of both countries for enhancing bilateral trade, investment, joint ventures and technology transfer in areas of interest.

Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Atif Ikram Sheikh and Tajikistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Sharif Said signed the MoU.

Speaking at the occasion, Said said that Tajikistan had initiated 471 investment projects in various sector including agro industry, pharmaceutical, food and processing industry, building materials, transport and communication, chemical and power sectors.

“Pakistani investors should explore investment opportunities in this country. Pakistan’s small industries have great potential to flourish. Tajikistan is very rich in energy resources and is producing the cheapest electricity in the world.”

Said said Pakistan should enhance cooperation with Tajikistan to overcome its energy problem.

He said Tajikistan was holding an exhibition in April 2016 and extended an invite to the ICCI. He was hopeful that MoU would play a positive role in increasing business linkages and improving bilateral trade between Pakistan and Tajikistan.

Meanwhile, the ICCI chief said that Pakistan was focusing on Central Asia for trade and exports and added that Tajikistan’s cooperation was very important to realise these objectives.

He said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would create a lot of investment opportunities and stressed that Tajik investors should come to Pakistan and join hands with Pakistani and Chinese investors to reap benefits of $46 billion flagship project.

He said a direct flight from Pakistan to Tajikistan took just one and a half hours and stressed that both countries should try to establish direct air links that would help in promoting bilateral trade.

He said Pakistan and Tajikistan could also be connected by road link from Chitral as it was at a distance of just 15km and both countries should make joint efforts to establish direct road links.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2015.

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