Turkey-Pakistan trade volume to increase to $5 billion: PM Shehbaz

WEB DESK: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed a high-level delegation of Turkish investors led by Turkey’s Minister of Trade and Customs, Dr Omer Bolat, during their visit to Pakistan.

The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the delegation’s visit, highlighting the exemplary and longstanding fraternal relations between the peoples of Turkey and Pakistan. He affirmed that Turkey and Pakistan are “one nation, two states.”

The Prime Minister emphasised Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing trade relations between the two countries. He noted that an agreement had been reached with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to increase the trade volume between Pakistan and Turkey to $5 billion annually. Efforts are currently underway on a priority basis to achieve this target.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister instructed relevant authorities to provide all necessary support to Turkish investors looking to invest in Pakistan. He reiterated his invitation to President Erdogan to visit Pakistan soon, expressing the anticipation of the Pakistani people for this visit.

The Prime Minister also noted that the Turkish investor delegation’s visit is expected to positively impact Turkish investment in Pakistan. Currently, the investment volume from 54 Turkish investor companies in Pakistan stands at $3.5 billion.

Turkish Minister of Trade Dr Omer Bolat confirmed the satisfaction of Turkish investors with Pakistan’s political and economic stability.

In addition, the delegation expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its substantial aid to Turkey’s earthquake victims in 2023.

The Turkish delegation included Turkey’s Deputy Minister of Trade Mustafa Tuzcu, TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, DEIK President Nail Olpak, Turkey Contractors Association President Erdal Eren, MUSIAD President Mahmoud Asmalı, TUMSIAD President Yasar Doyan, ASKON President Orhan Aydın, Turkey Exporters Assembly President Atilla Yerlikaaya, and ALBAYRAK Holding Chairman Ahmet Albayrak.

Also present were Pakistan’s Federal Ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Abdul Aleem Khan, Sardar Owais Leghari, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey, Dr Yusuf Junaid.

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