Islamabad, August 16, 2013 (PPI-OT): Uzbekistan considers Pakistan an important country of this region which is emerging as an attractive market and is keen to promote bilateral trade with it because the two countries have huge potential to improve trade and economic relations.
This was said by H.E. Mr. Parviz M. Aliev, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan while exchanging views with business community during his visit to Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He said direct connectivity between the private sectors of both countries is the way forward to promote bilateral trade and exports up to real potential. He said ICCI and Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry should have frequent interactions to explore new avenues of mutual cooperation between the two countries. He said Uzbekistan have 60 joint ventures with Pakistan and wants to develop more joint ventures with Pakistani businessmen in potential areas of interest.
The Ambassador said that Uzbekistan can help Pakistan in energy sector and in improving its railways system as Uzbekistan has good expertise in this area. He was of the view that Pakistan and Uzbekistan should work together to bring stability in Afghanistan as a stable Afghanistan was essential to develop railway communication between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. He said Russia is a huge market for Pakistani products and enhanced relations of Pakistan with Uzbekistan will provide it easy access to Russian market.
H.E. Mr. Pervaiz M. Aliev said Uzbekistan is going to organize a Cotton Exhibition in October this year and lot of companies of Uzbekistan would attend the event. He invited ICCI delegation to participate in that exhibition while his Embassy will coordinate for organizing B2B meetings between the entrepreneurs of both countries.
He said Uzbekistan Embassy grants visa to ordinary Pakistanis within 10 working days so that both countries could develop strong people-to-people level relations. He said Pakistan and Uzbekistan should join hands to cope with the common problem of terrorism.
Speaking at the occasion, Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that Uzbekistan should provide visa on arrival to those Pakistani businessmen who hold the valid visas of USA, UK and Shenzhen countries, which will greatly help in promoting tourism and bilateral trade between the two countries.
He said Turkey is already providing this facility to Pakistan and Uzbekistan should also seriously consider this proposal, which will have far reaching positive impact in improving bilateral trade and economic relations.
He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is enthusiastic to develop communication infrastructure in the country including motorways, roads and railways and Uzbek investors should come to Pakistan to explore investment opportunities in such big projects.
He urged that leadership of both countries should meet on the sidelines of forthcoming UN General Assembly session in New York to explore new avenues of cooperation between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. He said Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have huge potential to promote economic relations and they should explore all areas of potential cooperation to improve the living standards of their people.
He stressed for more direct air links between the two countries and suggested that Uzbek airline should connect Pakistan with Central Asian countries by increasing its flights to Pakistan. He assured that ICCI delegation would participate in Cotton Exhibition in Uzbekistan and Uzbek Embassy should facilitate delegation members for grant of visas.
For more information, contact:
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Chamber House, Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat Road,
Mauve Area, G-8/1,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +9251 225 0526 and 225 3145
Fax: +9251 225 2950
Email: icci@brain.net.pk
Website: www.icci.com.pk