RAWALPINDI: Pakistanis can use Kyrgyzstan to enter the ‘Eurasian Economic Markets’ of 182 million people comprising Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Armenia.

No doubt,there is a huge potential for bilateral trade between them in various fields, including agriculture, textile and pharmaceutical industry.

These remarks were made by Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) President Nadeem Rauf, while addressing the Kyrgyz-Pakistan trade and investment forum at a local hotel in Islamabad.

The forum was organised by the Kyrgyz Embassy in collaboration with the USAID Regional Office for Economic Integration, the Pakistani government and the chambers of commerce and industry of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

RCCI chief further said that the bilateral trade was $5.9 million in 2021 with Pakistan’s exports amounting to $5.3 million and imports $600,000.

There is a need to increase bilateral trade links and networking at the chamber of commerce level and suggest bilateral sector specific exhibitions on reciprocal basis. RCCI demands that the direct flights should be launched between the two countries.

The purpose of the forum was to establish and develop contacts between the business circles of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Kyrgyz envoy Ulanbek Totuiaev, Head of the USAID Regional Office for Economic Integration Bano Burki and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Saeed Hamid Ali also spoke on the occasion.

During the forum, Kyrgyz businessmen made presentations on the business opportunities in pharmaceuticals, textiles, logistics, IT and energy sectors, industry, agriculture, food industry, and construction.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2022