Although Tajikistan has emerged as one of the new markets for Pakistani products, there is still plenty of room for Pakistani exporters to have a bigger share in that market. According to a commodity market survey of Dushanbe, except for agricultural products like fruits and vegetables which are locally cultivated, 80 percent of the commodities are imported from neighbouring countries like Russia, China and Afghanistan.
It is, therefore time to look for new destinations of trade on the basis of mutually beneficial business as trade is the only source which could overcome different barriers for any country, said member export committee of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and Chief Executive Officer Harvest Tradings, Ahmad Jawad.
Only a few miles away from Pakistani border, Tajikistan is important as a gateway to other central Asian courtiers like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and the eastern part of Russia and Dushanbe could be a central market for all landlocked states. Besides being part of the free CIS Economic Zone, goods manufactured in Tajikistan get duty free access in CIS Free Economic Zones, he said.
Jawad said during the survey, it was found that many Pakistani products like pharmaceutical products, medicines, leather, garments and shoes were already exported to that country. Other goods like machinery: printing, agricultural, chemicals, sports gear, toiletries, perfumes, fruits and vegetables, sanitary, ceramics, washing machines, electronics, stainless steel crockery, non-stick pressure cookers have a profit margin ranging from 80 to 500 percent.
Potatoes and onions grown in Pakistan could hold significant profit margins during the off season in Dushanbe and Pakistani mango and other fruits such as kinnow could make strong inroads in not only Tajikistan but other countries of the region as well.
Similarly Pakistani exporters also have a better opportunity to introduce country's sports goods in the Dushanbe markets. Pakistan's major export to Tajikistani market is cement which has a high demand and is supplied through Kabul. Realising the increasing demand in Dushanbe Pakistan has also planned to establish a cement plant in the foreign country but currently due to shortage of gas the project is facing delay. He further said that almost 85 to 90 percent of commodity markets in Dushanbe were being run by women and their participation in other walks of life as compared to men is also pretty high. Tajikistan has low import duties while the currency is stable and one Sumoni is equivalent to 20 Pakistani rupees.
These cities with middle and lower income segments of population are more suitable for Pakistan's exports. China has the advantage of direct access to the whole of southern Russia with road and rail links. Both the countries are taking increased market share in the products like sports goods, leather and apparel. Pakistan could also carve out a share in the Russian market once the land route to Central Asian countries is open.
Other states like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan were trying to enhance their trade relations with Pakistan and the frequent visits of heads of states of those countries to Pakistan had paved the way for a mutually beneficial economic relationship, Jawad said. He also welcomed the gesture of the Government of Pakistan to open National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) branch in Dushanbe which will be used as an excellent banking channel on both sides for trade.
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