ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani ministry of commerce and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan organized the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Logistics Forum on Saturday in Tashkent, where officials agreed to set up a joint chamber of commerce and enhance direct flights.
Pakistan aims to enhance its role as a pivotal trade and transit hub connecting the landlocked Central Asian republics with the rest of the world, leveraging its strategic geographical position. In recent weeks, there has been a flurry of visits, investment talks and economic activity between Pakistan and Central Asian states and earlier this week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a special meeting attended by senior government ministers on how to enhance relations with the region in the areas of economy and investment.
“The [Pak-Uzbek] Forum was followed by B2B meetings between the Pakistani and Uzbek companies from the Logistics and Transport Sector,” a commerce ministry statement said. “More than 300 B2B meetings took place between the 14 participating Pakistani companies and 50 plus Uzbek companies who attended the Forum.”
Officials from Uzbekistan and Pakistan attend the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Logistics Forum on Saturday in Tashkent on June 29, 2024. (Photo courtesy: X/@official_tdap)
On the sidelines, CE TDAP, Zubair Motiwala, held a meeting with the deputy chairman of the Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry in which “both sides agreed to enhance bilateral trade, improve connectivity (including direct flight operations), and establish a Joint Chamber with Pakistan.”
They also discussed visa issues for the business community and sector-specific barriers.
State -run APP reported officials from both countries at the logistics forum “agreed to enhance bilateral trade, improve connectivity (including direct flight operations), and establish a Joint Chamber with Pakistan.”
The Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov, was in Islamabad on an official visit on May 8-9 with a special focus on trade and connectivity.
