ISLAMABAD: Islamabad and Tajikistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote mutually beneficial cooperation between private sectors of both countries for enhancing bilateral trade, investment, joint ventures and technology transfer in areas of interest.
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Atif Ikram Sheikh and Chairman, Tajikistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) Chairman Sharif Said signed the MoU at ICCI.
Speaking at the occasion, Chairman Sharif Said said that Tajikistan has initiated 471 investment projects in various sector including agro-industry, pharmaceutical, food and processing industry, building materials, transport and communication, chemical and power sectors and stressed that Pakistani investors should explore investment opportunities in his country. He said that especially Pakistan’s small industries have great potential in Tajikistan to flourish.
He said Tajikistan was very rich in energy resources and was producing cheapest electricity in the world while only 5 percent of its electricity was being exported. He said Pakistan should enhance cooperation with Tajikistan in energy sector to overcome its energy problem. He said Tajikistan was holding an exhibition in April 2016 and invited ICCI delegation to participate in that event to explore business opportunities. He was hopeful that MoU of cooperation between capital chambers of both countries would play positive role in increasing business linkages and improving bilateral trade between Pakistan and Tajikistan.
Atif Ikram Sheikh said that Pakistan was focusing on Central Asia for trade and exports and added that Tajikistan’s cooperation was very important to realize these objectives. He said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would create lot of investment opportunities and stressed that Tajik investors should come to Pakistan and join hands with Pakistani and Chinese investors to reap benefits of $46 billion flagship project.
He said a direct flight from Pakistan to Tajikistan took just one and a half hours and stressed that both countries should try to establish direct air links that would help in promoting bilateral trade. He said Pakistan and Tajikistan could also be connected by road link from Chitral as it was at a distance of just 15 KMs from this area and both countries should make joint efforts to establish direct road links which could give big boost to two-way trade and investment.
