Islamabad has opened a Trade and Export Promotion Service with Central Asian countries
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has opened a Trade and Export Promotion Service with Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan.
The symbolic ribbon was cut by the doyen of the diplomatic corps, Ambassador of Turkmenistan Atajan Movlamov, who congratulated ICCI on the opening of a new structure designed to strengthen Pakistan's trade ties with the countries of Central Asia and Azerbaijan. He also noted that a specialized web portal should be created to help the private sector of Pakistan and the CAR to exchange business proposals with each other.
The event was attended by ambassadors from other countries of the region. They noted the importance of ties with Pakistan, as the landlocked States of the region can access many markets through Pakistani ports. The diplomats spoke in favor of establishing direct flights with Pakistan to develop ties between people and B2B. In particular, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan said that direct flights between Almaty and Lahore will open in May, and between Almaty and Karachi - in April this year.
Speaking on this occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtavari, President of ICCI, said that the countries of Central Asia and Azerbaijan are estimated as a market worth more than $90 billion with huge potential for business and investment, but Pakistan's trade with these countries is far from possible volumes.
He said that Pakistan can export many goods to these countries, including textiles, leather, pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, electrical appliances, communications, machinery and equipment, as well as various services. Pakistan can import energy and other products from these countries and provide them with the shortest routes through its ports for international trade.
In addition, representatives of the Pakistani side spoke in favor of accelerating the implementation of the CASA 1000 and TAPI gas pipeline projects.
Earlier, last week, a similar service was officially opened in another Pakistani city, in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Rawalpindi (Punjab province).
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