Ahmed Mukhtar Naqshbandi
ISLAMABAD: Meher Kashif Younis, Chairman Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan Trade House, said on Sunday that promoting bilateral trade and economic ties between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan could be a milestone in regional and global trade connectivity and integration.
Addressing a seminar titled “Trade Prospects between Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan” organized by Gold Ring Economic Forum, he said that Pakistan’s geo-strategic position and the importance of the same location of Kyrgyzstan could play a significant role in integration regions and potential markets of the world.
He said that Pakistan is a major player in regional and global trade, bordering South Asian and Middle East states on the one hand and the economic power China on the other. Likewise, Kyrgyzstan has a distinctive place among the Central Asian states due to its very important geographic location.
Younis said that Kyrgyz exporters can use Gwadar port for the shipment of their goods to European countries and other parts of the world while Pakistani importers can import value-added milk products. Both sides can also promote collaboration in the mining sector as well as tourism.
He said that Pakistan was adding $100 million to the Kyrgyz economy in terms of fees and other living expenses of about 10,000 Pakistani students. Pakistan can also partially meet its energy need from the brotherly country.
Shortest way to Eurasian Economic Markets
He further said that Kyrgyzstan offered many opportunities for trade to Pakistan as it was the shortest way for its products to the Eurasian Economic Markets of 182 million people comprising Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, and Belarus.
He said that products once exported to Kyrgyzstan could be further transported to the markets in Eurasia without payment of custom duties.
