DUSHANBE, 06.07.2017 /NIAT “Khovar”/. Tajikistan and Pakistan decided to bring the exchange of goods up to $ 500 million over the next three years. It was stated at the third meeting of the Joint Business Council of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which was held in Dushanbe city as part of the official visit of the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to the Republic of Tajikistan.

During the meeting the Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan Nematullo Hikmatullozoda told about trade and economic cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan, and stressed that Tajikistan is interested in strengthening mutually beneficial economic cooperation with Pakistan.

It was noted that the holding of the third meeting of the Joint Business Council of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Dushanbe will play an effective role in the establishment of bilateral trade relations, trade, economic and investment cooperation, development and implementation of mutually beneficial projects, further development of comprehensive and wide-ranging cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan. It should be noted that the trade and economic cooperation between the two countries is being developed more than ever before over the last years.

The holding of five business fora between the two countries, as well as four exhibitions of goods and products of Pakistan in Tajikistan is a testimony of the above-mentioned. The trade volume between Tajikistan and Pakistan amounted to more than $ 10 million in the first five months of this year. The cotton fiber, primary aluminum, leather, fresh fruit, particularly grapes, as well as dried fruits and other products are mainly exported from Tajikistan to Pakistan. Sugar, milk products, citrus fruits, medicines, and cotton fabrics are imported from Pakistan. 14 joint ventures of Tajikistan and Pakistan in various fields are also functioning in Tajikistan.

Pakistan Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan, who visited Tajikistan for the first time, expressed interest in further strengthening trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Tajikistan. Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan added that we should rationally and effectively use the existing capacities and capabilities of both states in order to improve the level of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. He has also expressed interest in eliminating some tariff and non-tariff barriers, and stressed that in the direction of expansion of trade and economic cooperation the Tajik entrepreneurs have the opportunity to effectively use the seaports of Pakistan, such as Gwadar and Karachi, because the service cost for transporting goods and products is cheaper in Pakistan seaports.

The Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan – Chairman of the Joint Business Council “Tajikistan – Pakistan” Sharif Said, President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Zubair Tufail, Chairman of the Joint Business Council of “Pakistan — Tajikistan” Mohammad Yaqub have also expressed their views on enhancement of trade and economic cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan at the meeting, and assessed the establishment of direct flights between Dushanbe and Islamabad, as well as strengthening cooperation in the fields of industry, energy, and transport infrastructure, tourism, education and health care as one of the priorities of the development of economic cooperation between Tajikistan and Pakistan.

The free economic zones of Tajikistan and other economic and trade opportunities and potentials of our country were also presented at the meeting.

Following the meeting, bilateral meetings (B2B) between Tajik – Pakistani tradesmen and entrepreneurs also took place.