Weak road, air links & language barrier main hurdles in trade with Central Asian States

Islamabad, May 20, 2011 (PPI): Pakistan’s Ambassador designate to Azerbaijan Inayatullah Kakar on Friday said he would focus on cementing bilateral relations between the two countries, particularly economic, trade and investment ties with the brotherly country of Azerbaijan.

He said that he would encourage Azeri investors to avail the liberal incentives package and investment friendly policies of Pakistan and concentrate on exploring new markets to boost exports of Pakistani goods.

Talking to business community at FPCCI Capital Office, Kakar said that

Pakistan and Azerbaijan already have close bilateral cooperation and expressed hope that it would touch new heights with the help of business community of the two countries.

Chairman Coordination FPCCI Raza Khan, former presidents ICCI Nasir Khan, Khalid Jawed and others said that they would extend all cooperation to expand economic ties.

Raza Khan said that improvement of air and road links is imperative to achieve goal of meaningful trade between Pakistan and the central Asia.

“Language is another barrier impeding growth in trade relations,” he observed.

He advised Kakar to focus on Peshawar which is best placed for trade with central Asian states in the current set of circumstances.

Azerbaijan can use port city of Karachi as a store for onward exports to other countries, said Raza Khan adding that Pakistan can import cotton from Baku and export textiles, sugar and pharmaceuticals, which are in great demand there.

Nasir Khan said that bright prospects of mutually beneficial cooperation exists in the sectors like banking, finance, education, agriculture, science, IT, oil, gas, tourism, engineering, culture and investment sectors. He stressed that both brotherly countries should strive to find new avenues of cooperation.

Khalid Jawed said that Pakistan was the second country to recognize independence of Azerbaijan. We have shared perceptions on major global and regional issues that call for improved trade.