Pakistan on Thursday offered Turkmenistan to join the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to facilitate linkages with southern Port of Gwadar and the Arabian Sea as it will improve regional connectivity besides further aligning economic and trade interests of the two countries.
This offer was made by the Commerce Minister Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan while addressing the first Turkmenistan-Pakistan Joint Business Forum. Chief Executive TDAP, S. M. Munir, President FPCCI, Rauf Alam and senior representatives of Turkmenistan''s trade, industry and Chambers also addressed the forum. Chairman Board of Investment (BoI) Dr Mifta Ismail also witnessed the proceedings of the forum for a few moments.
Commerce Minister stated that holding of the first Joint Business Forum is a step in the right direction and would be instrumental in deepening linkages between the business communities of the two brotherly countries and significantly raising the level of bilateral trade, which at present is well below its potential.
"Bilateral trade is quite low and it has the potential to improve from the present level of $25 million. The factor which continues to hamper expansion of trade with Turkmenistan are lack of direct cargo links, safe and direct land routes, knowledge of Pakistani products, and visa facilitation," he added.
According to Commerce Minister, efforts are also being made to overcome these issues and strengthen trade relations with Turkmenistan focusing on enhanced market access, trade promotion and trade facilitation.
He said Pakistan''s accession to the TIR Convention will greatly facilitate Pakistan''s trade with Turkmenistan and other Central Asian states.
On the occasion of the visit of the Prime Minister to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan in May, 2015, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan.
Engineer Khurram Dastgir stated that towards implementation of the MoU, trade bodies of both countries are working hard to develop mutually beneficial economic relations and increased contacts between the business communities.
He said TDAP is planning to send a trade delegation of exporters of sports goods on the eve of the 5th Asian Indoor Games. Besides, official participation will also be organised in International Construction Exhibition in Ashgabat. A business delegation from Turkmenistan is being invited for attending Textile Expo in Karachi in April, 2016.
He further stated that TDAP is also considering plans to organize a Road Show in Turkmenistan in 2016 aimed at giving further momentum to trade.
The Turkmenistan delegation also displayed some of its products at the venue of Business Forum. The Commerce Minister and the participants took special interest in the displayed products.
Later on talking to media, the Commerce Minister stated that there is a lot of interest in Central Asian states in Pakistani products, including medicines. A delegation of pharma will also visit Turkmenistan.
He said Pakistan is also restarting flights for Tashkent (Uzbekistan) which will facilitate business community.
He said, Central Asian states which are situated in the east can benefit from Gwadar Port and the CPEC and this will also be beneficial for the people of Balochistan.
In reply to a question with regard to comments of Senator Salim Mandviwala about TDAP, Commerce Minister said that he respects the viewpoints of parliamentarians. However Mandviwala who was also a Minister of the former government during which billions of rupees corruption was done, should speak very carefully. "We welcome positive criticism but at the same time the person who is criticising should have clean hands," he added.
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