DUSHANBE, May 24, 2016, Asia-Plus – A two-day exhibition of Pakistani goods kicked off at Hyatt Regency Dushanbe Hotel today.
The event is organized by the Government of Tajikistan and Pakistan’s Embassy in Kazakhstan in collaboration with Tajikistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry within the frameworks of the Pakistan’s Trade Caravan initiative
Pakistani companies engaged in producing leather and leather products, pharmaceutical, textiles, surgical instruments, building materials, agro products, and sports goods have put on display their achievements at the fair in Dushanbe.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony for the exhibition, Ms. Manzoura Rustamova, Deputy Chairperson of Tajikistan”s CCI, noted that the main objective of the Pakistan’s Trade Caravan initiative was in promoting expansion of regional trade and economic cooperation.
“The exhibition, business forum and negotiations are a good platform for establishment of an active dialogue between the two sides,” Ms. Rustamova said, noting that a two-way trade between Tajikistan and Pakistan has increased in recent years – from 15 million U.S. dollars in 2011 to 89 million U.S. dollars in 2014.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tajikistan Tariq Iqbal Soomro, for his part, noted that there was a good potential for increasing trade volume between the two countries to 500 million U.S. dollars within the next few years.
On the sidelines of the event, Business to Business (B2B) meetings for delegates and exhibitors will take place here on May 25.
The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), previously known as the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), initiated the concept of ‘Pakistan Trade Caravan’ in order to increase interaction between the businesspeople of the two countries.
The Trade Caravan initiative is reportedly the first step in the beginning of long-term commercial relations between the two countries, aimed at fostering trade and investment relations between Pakistan and Tajikistan.
TDAP is the apex agency of the Government of Pakistan engaged in the promotion and growth of the country”s exports. It was established on November 8, 2008, under a Presidential Ordinance, with the Ministry of Commerce as its Administrative Ministry.
The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan has taken decision to hold an exhibition named Pakistan Trade Caravan in Tajikistan and other Central Asian states, following the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Tajikistan where he met Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to further promote bilateral relation.
The purpose of the exhibition is to increase export base, raise awareness on Pakistan and its products, provide opportunities for joint ventures, investment and brand franchising, etc.
To promote Tajikistan-Pakistan bilateral relations, both governments have exchanged high level of diplomatic and trade delegations. Pakistan and Tajikistan have also signed about twenty agreements, protocols and MoUs to extend cooperation in energy, communications, insurance, investments and industry, air transport, banking and financial agricultural and food industry.
Cooperation between the two countries Pakistan and Tajikistan started from 1991. Geographically Tajikistan is the nearest Central Asia’s nation to Pakistan.
