ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood on Wednesday reiterated the government’s resolve to strengthen trade and investment relations with Uzbekistan through institutional mechanisms and private sector joint ventures.
In a meeting with Charge’ D’affaires of Uzbekistan in Pakistan Sadullah Tashmatov at the Ministry of Commerce, the adviser emphasised the importance of developing connectivity for harnessing and deepening the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
“Pakistan is keen to develop backward and forward linkages in the textile, leather, pharmaceutical and agriculture sector with Uzbekistan,” he maintained.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the upcoming visit of Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Sardor Umurzakov to Pakistan. Earlier in May 2020, Dawood had invited the deputy PM to visit Pakistan along with a business delegation to discuss bilateral economic relations.
During the visit, both sides will sign a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of ‘Pakistan-Uzbekistan Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment’, the inaugural session of which is also likely to be held during the visit.
Both sides agreed to work together for improving connectivity, establishing banking channels and enhancing bilateral trade. In the meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister in May, discussions were held on business to business cooperation as well as utilization of Gwadar and Karachi ports for trade.
All these suggestions will also be taken up in the upcoming visit next month.
In addition, the Uzbek envoy discussed the development of connectivity through road, rail and air linkages between both countries.
The envoy also expressed interest in the use of Sialkot International Airport for trade. Both sides agreed to explore opportunities for cooperation and were hopeful that the upcoming visit would help in ehancing bilateral trade and economic ties.
