The President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Atif Ikram Sheikh, welcomed Ambassador Oybek Arif Usmanov of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Islamabad for a fruitful discussion on bolstering bilateral ties. Their dialogue encompassed a spectrum of topics, ranging from augmenting bilateral trade and fostering mutual cooperation to enhancing investment opportunities and fortifying the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Business Council. The meeting also delved into the prospect of facilitating the exchange of trade delegations between the two nations. Accompanying the Uzbek ambassador was Bakurum Yusov, the Economic and Trade Consul of Uzbekistan.
Sheikh underscored the gradual increase in Pakistan’s exports to Uzbekistan over recent years, emphasizing the need for further augmentation. He highlighted promising avenues for bilateral trade expansion, particularly in sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, rice, machinery, and agriculture.
Additionally, Sheikh disclosed FPCCI’s intention to actively participate in Uzbekistan’s upcoming single-country exhibition scheduled for June 28. He voiced concerns regarding challenges faced by Pakistanis in obtaining business visas, tourist visas, and flights to Uzbekistan.
In response, Ambassador Usmanov extended an invitation to Pakistan’s business community to Uzbekistan’s International Business Forum slated for May 3 and 4. He also announced the upcoming visit of Uzbekistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to Pakistan on May 9-10, during which various engagements, including governmental-to-business (G2B) and business-to-business (B2B) meetings, are planned. Recognizing the impact of regional dynamics on trade, the Ambassador emphasized the imperative of initiating the Afghanistan-Pakistan Corridor to mitigate trade impediments. Furthermore, he assured that efforts are underway to commence direct flights from Islamabad and Lahore to Uzbekistan while swiftly resolving visa-related issues.
The meeting witnessed the presence of distinguished personalities including Karim Aziz Malik, Chairman of FPCCI Capital Office; Ahmed Waheed, Convener of FPCCI Diplomatic Committee; Ashfaq Ahmed, Vice President of FPCCI; Malik Sohail Hussain, Chairman Coordination; Fahad Waheed, Acting President of ICCI; Engineer Azharul Islam, Vice President of ICCI; Dr. Afshan Malik, Advisor to President FPCCI; Farrukh Alvi, Executive Member of FPCCI; Mohsin Sheikh, Chairman of Pakistan Russia Business Council, alongside other dignitaries.
