STAFF REPORT
ISLAMABAD: Kyrgyz ambassador to Pakistan, Ulanbek Totuiaev, said on Monday that Kyrgyzstan wanted enhanced trade relations with Pakistan as both countries had great potential to do trade.
Addressing the business community at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), he said that Kyrgyzstan exported about 3000 tons of coal to Pakistan in 2022 and, being a rich country in natural resources, can export more commodities to Pakistan. Pakistan can also export many goods to Kyrgyzstan, including textile, agricultural, and pharmaceutical products.
The ambassador said Pakistani citrus and mangoes had great trade potential in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan is importing Indian marble, and Pakistani marble exporters have an opportunity to capture this market.
Railway project to boost trade
The envoy said a Kyrgyzstan House would be opened in Lahore next to display the Kyrgyz products for Pakistani consumers. The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project would be extended to Peshawar through the neighboring country Afghanistan in the future, which would help boost trade ties.
He further said that his Kyrgyzstan would hold an investment summit at the start of next year. Pakistani investors should participate to explore investment and business opportunities in the Central Asian country. He stressed the ICCI to form a delegation for his Kyrgyzstan and assured the Kyrgyz embassy would assist it in its visit.
On the occasion, Vice President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Engineer Muhammad Zafar ul Islam Zafar said that Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan were enjoying warm relations. Still, their bilateral trade of nearly 8-9 million US dollars was much below the actual potential. He said that both countries are doing trade in limited areas and should focus on widening and diversifying their trade.
