Pakistan urges Tajikistan to invest in CPEC projects
ISLAMABAD, September 15: Pakistani Federal Minister of Industries and Production Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar on Tuesday afternoon urged Tajikistan to invest in CPEC projects.
Bakhtyar held a virtual interactive session with Sherali Kabir, Minister for Industries and New Technologies. Ismatullo Nasredin, Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan and senior officials from both sides also attended the meeting.
During the meeting, the two sides deliberated upon the framework of industrial sector cooperation between the two countries in view of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s official visit to Tajikistan in a couple of days.
Both sides identified six areas of cooperation including textile, mining, leather, food processing, pharmaceuticals and surgical equipment.
The Minister apprised that Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan would be accompanied by a delegation of businessmen reflecting each identified sector of cooperation.
He said that the presence of the business community and industrialists from both sides would help establish long-term B2B cooperation between Pakistan and Tajikistan.
He also highlighted the Investment-friendly atmosphere of Pakistan and offered attractive opportunities for foreign investment – especially in the CPEC SEZs - including joint ventures in priority areas of cooperation.
While speaking with Tajik counterpart, the Minister called for industrial complementarities and synergies between both countries to energize business to business interaction avenues to expand bilateral trade and industrial development agenda.
The Minister also underscored the vibrant industrial sector of Pakistan along with the highly skilled labor force in construction, textiles, leather, footwear, surgical equipment, sports goods, automotive and mobile phone manufacturers and light engineering sectors.
The Minister also apprised the meeting about promulgation of the National Electric Vehicles Policy and Mobile Device Manufacturing Policy.
He said that the revised version of Automotive Development Policy and the new National SMEs Policy would expand Pakistan’s industrial base.
Sherali Kabir, Tajik Minister for Industries, shed light on five years' plan of the Government of Tajikistan for mining and exploration of rare metals, coal and minerals in his country.
He discussed the setting up of free distribution channels along the border of the neighborhood and invited Pakistani companies to explore opportunities in increasing trade and financing across the region.
He also expressed the hope for enhancing economic and industrial sector ties between both countries during the official visit of Prime Minister of Pakistan to Tajikistan.
