ISLAMABAD (APP) - The Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF) and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) have agreed to develop an action plan to promote trade and investment with the countries in the region and with Central Asian States in particular. In this regard, TDAP Chairman Mohibullah Shah and Chief Executive Officer of the Competitiveness Support Fund, Arthur Bayhan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), said a statement issued by CSF here on Thursday. The TDAP chairman said that he was pleased that the MoU had been signed as it opened new avenues for cooperation with CSF to further improve the competitiveness of Pakistan's economy through trade. He said that it was vital to further develop the trade corridor to create trade linkages with Central Asian Republics, which are growing emerging economies. "We have an opportunity to consider the trade corridor as a pipeline to increase exports to Central Asia," he said. CEO CSF, Arthur Bayhan reiterated that the MoU was the result of similar interest to bolster the export sector of Pakistan economy through collaboration. Bayhan said the trade corridor and investment are crucial for regional integration and economic development. Under the stipulations of the MoU, both parties agreed to facilitate each other's work related to competitiveness in the global market. Workshops will be organized by TDAP all over the country to educate people about the linkages between trade and investment and their role in increasing competitiveness. The CSF will provide technical assistance to TDAP on export promotion, focusing on strengthening trade ties with Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries. It will also be the bridge between TDAP and the Ministries of Finance, Investment, and other GOP bodies, private sector and foreign investors. The CSF will facilitate the implementation of the national Trade Corridor Project which applies to agro-processing and rural market infrastructure. As well, focus will be put on developing export-oriented agro-processing, and targeting markets in Central Asia and Afghanistan. Pakistan is working to establish trade and investment linkages with the Central Asian Republics, including energy corridors (gas from Turkmenistan and electricity from Kyrgyzstan) within the context of the CAREC regional programme sponsored by the Asian Development Bank. The TDAP and CSF, jointly with Board of Investment (BOI), will identify the members of the trade delegation. The trade delegation is planned to go first to Almaty (Kazakhsatn) and then to Bishkek (Kyrgyz Republic). The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) has offered its collaboration with CSF to organize the workshops as most of the entrepreneurs are members of CIPE. The CSF intends to work in close collaboration with TDAP and the Law Division to support drafting of the transit trade rules. The Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF) is a joint initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Government of Pakistan Ministry of Finance, established to reposition Pakistan's economy on a more globally competitive footing. USAID's support for CSF is part of the $2.8 billion aid that the US Government has provided to Pakistan since 2002 to improve economic growth, education, health, and governance and to reconstruct the earthquake-affected areas.