National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): Federal Minister for Commerce,
Khurram Dastgir Khan Thursday invited Turkmenistan to join
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and promote its
external trade through Arabian Sea by utilizing the Pakistan’s
southern port of Gwadar.
“The port of Gwadar can prove very beneficial for all
the Central Asian Countries, including Turkmenistan to promote
their trade through Arabian Sea in the East,” the minister
said while inaugurating the first-ever Turkmenistan-Pakistan
Business Forum (TPBF) here.
Mr.Khurram said that the Pakistan was keen to improve
relations with Turkmenistan and this dream could be
materialized by improving connectivity between the two
countries.
“Improved connectivity provides foundation to transform
relations into strategic partnership through meaningful
economic projects,” the minister said adding that both the
countries have entered into new phase of relations after
organizing TPBF.
The minister said that the bilateral trade between the
two countries was just $25 million, which is far behind their
potential, so efforts are required to improve the trade volume.
He enumerated that lack of direct cargo links, safe and
direct land routes, knowledge of Pakistani products and visa
facilitation were the main hinderances that have been
hampering trade growth between the two countries.
He said that efforts are being made to overcome these
issues and strengthen trade by enhanced market access, trade
promotions and facilitation.
The minister said that in line with the Prime Minister’s
vision, strong relations with the regional countries stands
high on the government’s agenda of cooperation.
He said that the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan
(TDAP) would send trade delegation of exporters of sports
goods to Turkmenistan on the eve of the 5th Asian Indoor Games
while official participation would also be organized in the
International Construction exhibition to be held in Ashqabad
while a Road Show would also be organized in Turkmenistan to
showcase Pakistani products.
The minister said that a business delegation from
Turkmenistan is being invited to attend Textile expo in
Karachi in April this year.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Deputy Minister of
Agriculture and Water Economy Ministry of Turkmenistan,
Maksatmyrat Atayev invited Pakistani investors to invest in
various sectors in Turkmenistan economy.
He said that Turkmenistan has been developing textile
industry with spacial focus on production of export quality
products, adding that currently 80 percent of country’s
textile products are exported.
Speaking on the occasion, Representative of the Ministry
of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan Serdar
Atagylyjev said that Pakistan and Turkmenistan have great
potential to cooperate with each other and promote bilateral
trade.
He said that both the countries could cooperate in the
sectors of oil and energy, agriculture, mining and technology.
Representative of the Ministry of Industry of
Turkmenistan, Atajan Bayromov also spoke on the occasion gave
a detailed presentation on the construction material industry
of his country and briefed the audience how it could help
trade promotion.
Chief Executive Officer PTDA, S. M. Munir said that both
the countries have great trade potential however, concrete
efforts are required to tap this potential. He expressed the
hope that this forum would help further strengthen mutual
cooperation.
President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce
and Industry (FPCCI) Abdul Rauf Alam said that the geo-
strategic location of Pakistan provides huge opportunities to
turkmenistan to promote its trade through it.
Representative of Union of Industrialists and
Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, Tahyr Atahanov, on the occasion
expressed the hope that this meeting would help promote
bilateral trade relations between the two countries.