Agreement on import from Yemen likely in January

Islamabad, January 08, 2014 (PPI-OT): The 7th Session of Pakistan – Yemen Joint Ministerial Commission was held in Islamabad from January 7-8, 2014. The Inaugural Session was Co-chaired by Mr. Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi, Minister for Industries and Production and also Co-chair of Pakistan Yemen Joint Ministerial Commission and His Excellency, Dr. Saadaldeen Ali Salim Talib, Minister for Industry and Trade of the Republic of Yemen.

During the two days sessions of the Commission, marathon meetings were held between the experts of the two sides on a number of issues, especially focusing on Trade, Commerce, and Finance and Investment.

Matter relating to import of LNG from Yemen were also discussed. Similarly matters pertaining to deepening cooperation in Education, Vocational Training, Health and Population, Agriculture, Fisheries and Infrastructure Development also came under discussion during meeting.

During the closing session, minutes of the meetings, agreed by both sides, were signed by Mr. Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi, Minister for Industries and Production of Pakistan and His Excellency, Dr. Saadaldeen Ali Salim Talib, Minister for Industry and Trade of the Republic of Yemen. An Executive Programme on Cooperation in the fields of Specification, Standardization and Quality Control between Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and Yemen Standardization, Metrology and Quality Control Organization (YSMO) was also signed during the closing session.

the highlights of major decisions taken during the meetings of the 7th Session of Pakistan – Yemen Joint Ministerial Commission are as under:

i. Both sides will commence discussions on Preferential Trade Agreement / Free Trade Agreement with the objective of increasing bilateral trade volume,

ii. Decision was taken for the establishment of Pakistan-Yemen Joint Business Council and to convene its first meeting during the first quarter of 2014.

iii. A committee for exploring the investment opportunities in both the countries was constituted in the session.

iv. An agreement for the import of LNG from Yemen is likely to be signed during the
proposed visit of Yemeni Minister for Oil and Minerals to Pakistan in January 2014.

The progress on a number of pending MoUs, Agreements and Executive programmes was also reviewed and it was decided to speed up the pace of internal procedures, required before signing the said MoUs, Agreements and Executive programmes between our two countries.

For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
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