DUSHANBE, May 30, 2011, Asia-Plus — A large delegation of Pakistani entrepreneurs, numbering some 100 people, is arriving in Dushanbe today.
According to the Tajik MFA information department, Pakistani entrepreneurs’ visit to Tajikistan will last until June 3 and the purpose of the visit is for Pakistan businesspeople to get acquainted with capacity of Tajikistan’s economy and study the possible priorities of cooperation.
The Pakistani delegation members reportedly include senior representatives of Pakistani leading commercial and industrial companies operating in sectors like textiles, pharmaceutics, mechanical engineering, information technologies (ITs), mining, food and agriculture, construction and tourism.
On May 31, a conference with participation of representatives from Tajik and Pakistani business communities will take place in Dushanbe. Tajik Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov will attend the meeting. The forum participants are expected to consider issues related to launching joint ventures an expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries.
The source says Pakistan shows interest in Tajik aluminum and hydroelectricity projects, while Tajik officials and businesspeople hope that the visit of Pakistan businessmen will give a new impulse to further expansion of trade relations between the two countries.
In the meantime, Pakistani media outlets report that a joint news conference of Pakistani officials and Tajik ambassador to Pakistan highlighted the aims and objectives of the visit of Pakistani delegation to Tajikistan.
Mr. Tariq Iqbal Puri, Chief Executive, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP); along with Senator Haji Ghulam Ali, President of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI); Mr. Zubaydullo Zubaydov, Tajikistan Ambassador to Pakistan and Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig held a joint press conference at Islamabad Press Club on May 29 to highlight the purpose and objectives of the visit to Tajikistan on the invitation of Tajik President His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, Pakistani media outlets report.
Mr. Tariq Puri informed that during the state visit of Tajik President to Pakistan in March 2011, he had invited a high powered business delegation to visit Tajikistan to deepen the business relationship between the two countries and to explore areas of mutual cooperation. Mr. Puri said that TDAP and FPCCI have jointly undertaken this important businessmen delegation, which represents the cross section of Pakistan’s trade and industry and business leaders from all parts of the country.
The industrial and services sectors represented in the delegation include: Textiles, Rice, Pharmaceuticals, Engineering, Financial sector, Food and Agriculture, Information Technology, Minerals, Construction, Travel and Tourism, Leather, Arms and Ammunition, Auto parts, Cutlery and other General Products. Areas of interest in the Tajik economy for Pakistani investors include Cotton, Aluminum and Hydel power sectors in which joint venture opportunities will be explored.
Senator Haji Ghulam Ali elaborating upon the objectives of this delegation, delineated the desire of the FPCCI, Pakistan’s apex business body, to interact with their counterparts in Tajikistan. He envisaged that such high level contacts would be highly productive in stimulating new areas of business collaboration between the brotherly countries.
Mr. Zubaydullo Zubaydov, Tajik Ambassador to Pakistan, briefed the Press about the efforts expended on making the program of the delegation in Tajikistan for making the visit productive in achieving the desired objectives.
Dr. Ikhtiar Baig shared his vision of developing mutually beneficial business relations with Tajikistan based on joint ventures with Tajik side in the area of textiles and clothing.
