KARACHI: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Uzbekistan Dr. Irfan Yusuf Shami has stressed the need to further tap and explore the Uzbek market by identifying the potential areas, besides effectively marketing Pakistani products and services which would surely result in improving the existing trade volume between the two countries.
Talking to KCCI office bearers and managing committee members during his visit to Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ambassador added that upon assuming charge of Pakistan’s Embassy in Tashkent, it will be one of his first and foremost priority to establish a static display center where chamber-wise details along with samples of Pakistani products and services will be exhibited.
President KCCI Shamim Ahmed Firpo, Senior Vice President KCCI Asif Nisar and KCCI Managing Committee members were also present on the occasion.
Expressing deep concern over descending exports of Pakistan, Dr. Shami assured to try his level best to improve Pakistan’s trade ties with Uzbekistan which is a highly potential market for many Pakistani products including pharma, surgical, sports, agricultural products, mangoes, citrus fruits, potatoes and other vegetables etc.
He further assured to maintain excellent liaison with the Karachi Chamber on 24/7 basis so that trade linkages could be improved between KCCI and the Uzbek business community in order to effectively respond to and fully facilitate numerous trade inquiries. “I am your Ambassador and I am your Commercial Counselor in Uzbekistan. Any input from Karachi Chamber to improve trade ties will always be welcomed and surely taken into consideration, he added.
He further advised the Karachi Chamber to line up a business delegation to Uzbekistan in the first week of October 2017 which will be fully assisted by the Embassy and all out efforts will be made to facilitate maximum number of B2B meetings with Uzbek counterparts with a view to pave way for enhanced trade, investment and joint ventures between the two countries.
Dr. Shami was of the view that ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan have been improving as direct flights were operating at full passenger and cargo capacity between the two countries. “Uzbekistan Airways, which is operating in 52 countries, has initiated two direct flights a week from Lahore to Tashkent which hardly take two hours to reach destination. More direct flights from Karachi to Tashkent and Islamabad to Tashkent are also being expected, depending on the passenger and cargo traffic from these cities”, he added.
Dr. Shami further sought Chamber’s assistance in identifying the bottlenecks, problems, strengthen and weakness hindering trade between the two countries by seeking inputs from those KCCI’s members who have visited Uzbekistan so that steps could accordingly be taken to rectify problems and maximum facilitation could be extended to the business and industrial community of Karachi Chamber.
