Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan are to ink a Trilateral Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA) in March 2015 which will replace the existing Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), sources close to Secretary Commerce told Business Recorder. The sources said first trilateral expert level meeting between Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan was held on January 3, 2015 in Islamabad.
The meeting was co-chaired by Secretary Commerce, Shehzad Arbab, Mozamil Shinwari, Acting Minister for Commerce & Industries, Afghanistan and Nazriev S. R, Deputy Minister for Economic Development and Trade, Tajikistan. Secretary Commerce highlighted the significance of regional integration and commercial activity for enhanced co-operation, economic development and prosperity of the region. He further stated that trade and transit agreement between the three countries would enhance trade through facilitation, removal and barriers, unnecessary delays and reduction in cost of doing business.
The officials of three countries hoped that the agreement would be a win-win situation for all three countries; and will lay the foundation for a greater and deeper regional economic cooperation. After a detailed discussion, the participants took the following decisions: (i) each member nominated one focal person for future co-ordination and communication with other members; Rahim Momand, Director General, International Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industries Afghanistan, Farukh Soliev, head of the Foreign Economic Co-ordination Department, Tajikistan and Robina Athar, Additional Secretary Ministry of Commerce. She would co-ordinate with other focal persons.
Ministry of Commerce Pakistan would share the draft on TTTA with other members and seek their view/comments. On receipt of input from member countries, first draft would be prepared by end of next month. The second trilateral meeting would be held in Dushanbe in the middle of March 2015 where the first draft of the agreement would be presented for a discussion and final draft.
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