ISLAMABAD: The ambassador of Ukraine in Islamabad, Volodymyr Lakomov, felicitating the government and people of Pakistan on its Independence Day, highlighted the need to create more favourable conditions for building up mutually beneficial business cooperation between two countries. Very soon, despite the obstruction of Moscow, the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) will enter into force and will be fully implemented, that can bring new benefits for Ukraine-Pakistan trade, he said. He said it would open up new avenues for the investors of the two countries and offer Pakistani products outreach to European market through Ukraine.
In an exclusive interview with APP on the eve of Pakistan Independence Day, he said: “Congratulations to friendly and brotherly Pakistani people on the occasion of 70th anniversary of Independence Day. And wish all our Pakistani people, prosperity, good health and peace in the country, peace in their families and peace within.”
He said: “We hope that the Pakistani Ukrainian friendship will grow by getting more comprehensive relations, covering all other areas, not only business and culture but also people to people cooperation.”
“We see [our relations with] Pakistan, even during my stay as ambassador for five years or so, getting stronger, more beautiful and more distinctive. What they are trying to achieve in politics, in their lives, in economics and whatever, we wish success to our brotherly Pakistani people to fulfill all their plans and goals.”
Replying to a query, he said that primarily, the two sides needed to take the relations to next level, in order to intensify political contacts, form a proper legal base for cooperation in the spheres of trade, investments, finance, transport, and launch productive inter-regional, across-industry cooperation.
The relations between Ukraine and Pakistan were likely to get more dynamic, with the signing of various new agreements, conventions and setting up of commissions, he said, adding, these efforts would not only bring both the countries closer but would also assist in making them close partners to achieve economic prosperity and stability.
The volume of trade between Ukraine and Pakistan in the year 2014 reached its historical maximum of 498 million US dollars (52.4% increase compared to the year 2013). Export of Ukrainian goods to Pakistan amounted to 397.5 million US dollars, imports of goods 100.8 million US dollars, with positive trade balance for Ukraine being 297 million US dollars.
Through a survey, he said, we asked the students of important universities in Ukraine to identify Pakistani products in their nearest superstores and found that Pakistani basmati rice, kinno, mango and textile products were available in every superstore. This reflected that our people were familiar with Pakistan and its products, he added.
Ukrainian businessmen are also working on opening up superstores in major cities of Pakistan to introduce Pakistani consumers with Ukrainian products.
Responding to a query, he said that Ukrainian machinery and engines were of high quality and cheaper than other competitors.
Ukraine especially appreciates an outstanding cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the military and technical field, which will proceed and will actively develop in future, the ambassador further said.
“The International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) in December of 2014 was marked by a distinguished high-level meeting [between] Roman Romanov with the then Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif in Karachi. The stall of the Ukrainian defense industry at “IDEAS 2014” was declared one of the best and was awarded as well”, he said.
He said the Ukrainians assisted in developing the key industries and national economy of Pakistan in 1960-70. The Karachi Steel Mills, which remains one of the largest industrial complexes in Pakistan, a number of powerful hydro stations in Tarbela and other projects were built in this period, as well as the large pack of Ukraine agricultural machinery and trucks which were delivered to Pakistan.
After getting Independence on the 24th August, 1991, Ukraine was officially recognised by Pakistan as a state and both sides established diplomatic relations on 16th March, 1992.
For two decades, there has been political dialogue between Ukraine and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan that has become regular feature of foreign relations of both countries, he said.
