'Pakistan-Iran-Turkey trade routes can add value to OBOR project'

LAHORE: Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Road Transport Corridor, in conjunction with the Chinese One Road, One Belt (OBOR) project will prove to be a game changer in promoting regional trade among the four friendly nations of the region. It was stated by Wang Zihai, President Pak-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) during a thin-tank meeting on Pak-Turkey-China Tripartite trade. The meeting was also attended by Ehsan Choudhry, Senior Vice President, Faraz Butt, Vice President, Salahuddin Hanif, Secretary General and a number of the Executive Committee Members of PCJCCI.

PCJCCI Chief acknowledged that Turkey, like China, had been an all-weather fried of Pakistan and the friendly relationship has further been foster under the leadership of Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He observed that Pakistan is now more integrated into international trade because of CPEC and OBOR projects, which have created new opportunity for Turkey as well. Turkey's exports to China will be able to route through Pakistan towards China, he said adding that Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul Road Transport Corridor Project was successfully carrying commercial cargo on Pakistani trucks to Turkey and vice-versa up to Chinese Markets.

Ehsan Choudhry, Senior Vice President PCJCCI said that both countries share positive trade relations and the investments by Turkish companies in Pakistan have increased by over US$1 billion. The two countries also signed a Strategic Economic Framework agreement that covers a broad spectrum of cooperation in science and technology, defense, tourism, education, and health. He said that PCJCCI would enhance Chinese investment in these sectors to create a sustainable economic triangle amongst the three friendly states.

Faraz Butt, Vice President PCJCCI said that, despite of recent economic initiatives, Pakistan should take additional steps to reprioritize this essential aspect of the bilateral equation with Turkey. Successful completion of ongoing projects with Turkey such as the Trans-Afghan Railway project, CASA-1000, and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline could significantly improve Pakistan's connectivity with Western Asia and Europe, he said and urged to exploit such projects in conjunction with One Road, One Belt (OBOR) project of China.

Salahuddin Hanif, Secretary General PCJCCI shared his views by saying that, Pakistan's economic woes are no longer simply a domestic issue but a foreign policy challenge. Considering that Turkey is such a close ally, where President Erdogan has addressed the parliament four times, exploring an economic dimension within the bilateral relationship makes sense. It is yet to be seen if the Khan administration can reprioritize international relations beyond the national security prism and without compromising Chinese Economic Development Programme in the region.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021