ISLAMABAD, Sep 23 (DNA): Yerzhan Kistafin, Ambassador of Kazakhstan on
Saturday said the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is
scheduled to visit Pakistan in the near future for further strengthen
bilateral trade and economic relations.
A business delegation of Kazakhstan led by Mr.Yerzhan Kistafin,
Ambassador of Kazakhstan visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (ICCI) and showed interest to explore business and investment
opportunities in Pakistan, said a press release issued here by the ICCI
here.
The delegation was representing food and beverages, oil and gas,
minerals, precious stones, fertilizers, chemicals, textiles, autoparts,
wholesale and retail sectors.
Speaking on the occasion, Yerzhan Kistafin, Ambassador of Kazakhstan
said that his country wants to further strengthen trade relations with
Pakistan as both countries have good potential to do trade in many
items.
He said that last year, a trade delegation of Kazakhstan was organized
to Pakistan and hoped that the visit of another Kazakh delegation would
contribute to promote business relations between the two countries.
Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce &
Industry said that both countries should set at least US$ 1 billion
bilateral trade target as the current level of trade is not matching
with their actual potential.
He said that Kazakhstan is a big landlocked country and Pakistani ports
provide it the shortest route through Arabian Sea to access other
markets.
Pakistan and Kazakhstan can cooperate in many fields including
construction, agriculture, energy, textiles, pharmaceuticals, food
items, engineering equipment, machinery, banking & finance.
He said both countries should explore road and railway links that would
boost trade and economic relations between them.
He said that ICCI is planning a delegation to Kazakhstan to explore new
avenues of business partnerships increasing bilateral trade ties between
the two countries.
Yessentayev Arman, Head of Kazakh delegation said that Pakistan is a
huge market for business and investment and they have come to explore
business opportunities in many sectors in Pakistan including oil & gas,
surgical instruments, juices, textiles, rice, sugar, fertilizers and
others.
He said that both countries should open bank branches in each other’s
market that would facilitate bilateral trade promotion. He said that
there is a lack of information in private sectors of both countries
about potential areas of business cooperation and hoped that their visit
to Pakistan would bridge this gap.
Engr. Azhar ul Islam Zafar, Vice President ICCI said that both countries
should sign a transit trade agreement to provide a legal framework to
the private sectors for trade promotion. He said that Pakistan can also
get easy access to Central Asian markets by developing close cooperation
with Kazakhstan. DNA
: Yerzhan Kistafin, Ambassador of Kazakhstan onSaturday said the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev){kind=link}