Lahore - Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan Jononov Sher Ali has said that four-day long Pak-Tajik Trade & Cultural Festival 2016 being started from April 07 in Dushanbe is a unique opportunity for the Pakistani businessmen to make their trade and economic ties stronger with their Tajik counterparts besides exploring a huge market.
He was talking to the LCCI Senior Vice President Almas Hyder and Vice President Nasir Saeed here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Cultural & Commercial Attaché Marufjon Abdurahmonov were also present on the occasion.
Tajik Ambassador said that Pakistani businessmen from Textile, construction, building material, home appliances, furniture, general machinery, agricultural products, health care products, food products, Information Technology, sports items, leather goods, fashion, home decoration, printing, packaging and tourism sector should be part of the Pak-Tajik Trade & Cultural Festival 2016.
Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan Sherali S. Jononov said that Tajikistan is keen to further strengthen trade & economic ties with Pakistan. Private sectors of the both sides should work hand in hand to tap the huge potential exist in Tajikistan and Pakistan.These views were expressed by him while his visit to LCCI.
The Ambassador said that a number of Pakistani companies belonging to pharmaceutical, textile, agriculture and livestock sectors are doing good business.
He said that a greater interaction between the Chambers of Commerce of the two countries, exchange of trade delegations, holding of single country exhibitions can increase the volume of bilateral trade.
He said that China and Iran are used to hold single country exhibitions in Tajikistan therefore, the Lahore Chamber of Commerce should take lead in this regard.
He said that he was ready to arrange B-2-B meetings of Pakistani businessmen in Tajikistan provided the LCCI arranges a delegation.
He said that the embassy of Tajikistan in Islamabad would continue to facilitate Pakistani businessmen in getting visa on priority basis.
He said both Pakistan and Tajikistan have good diplomatic relations and enjoy historical bonds of brotherhood but these ties are hardly reflected in two way trade.
He also said that with the implementation of CASA 1000 which is an important project of World Bank, a new era of economic cooperation will take place. This will also lead to lay foundation for greater trade between two countries.
He said both governments are working on Preferential Trade Agreement, meeting have been conducted from both sides and we will reach on a result very soon. He also said that desired results largely depend on the need for enhanced connectivity by air, road and rail and for facilitating travel, transit, transportation and tourism.
He said that the Trilateral Transit Trade Agreement among Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan which is presently at early stage has the potential to bring these countries much close to each other.
He said that this agreement can go a long way in establishing a Common Transport Corridor in the region which would enhance regional trade and investment greatly and attract foreign investors due to its lucrative economic potential.
The LCCI Senior Vice President Almas Hyder said that both Pakistan and Tajikistan have good diplomatic relations and enjoy historical bonds of brotherhood but some serious efforts are required to get these ties truly reflected in two way trade.
He said that a lot about the untapped trade potential available in Central Asian Republics. It is a matter fact that so far this potential has been exploited not even equal to tip of iceberg. In 2013, the value of total exports of Pakistan to Tajikistan was dollar 10.3 million which contracted to dollar 9.1 million in 2014. There is even more disappointing scenario in imports made from Tajikistan to Pakistan which was just dollar 6.2 million in 2010 and descended to almost nothing in years to come.