June 21, 2002	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 9, 1423

ISLAMABAD, June 20: The opening Session Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) on Trade between Pakistan and Turkey was held in Ankara on Thursday.

Federal Minister for Commerce, Industries and Production Abdul Razak Dawood, who is leading a delegation, in his opening remarks said that his country would like to have greater market access, removal of textile quota restrictions, improvement of trade through shipping and bilateral custom tariff reduction, says a message received here from Turkey on Thursday.

Mr. Dawood said that to encourage trade through land route between the continents of Asia and Europe, the trilateral trucking agreement among Pakistan, Iran and Turkey must be signed, to which Iran has already conceded.

The minister highlighted the investment friendly environment in Pakistan and offered the Turkish business community joint ventures in the areas of textiles, leather, rice and seafood.

He also gave his vision about Pakistan’s sustainable growth in economic and trade sectors and reiterated his firm commitment for making Pakistan a credible international market.

Prior to the opening session, the experts on both sides met to formulate joint committees on textile, communication and transport, shipping and custom tariffs.

The JMC will continue its deliberation for two days, during which a number of Memorandums of Understanding and a Joint Communique are likely to be signed.—APP