• Pakistan hosts first ministerial meeting with Afghanistan, Uzbekistan
• Vows to increase trade, foreign investment

ISLAMABAD: The first trilateral commerce ministers’ meeting of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan took place on Tuesday, marking a significant stride towards fostering investment opportunities across various sectors.

This initiative is anticipated to pave the way for an influx of foreign direct investment, bolster regional cooperation, and enhance connectivity. Commerce ministers of Pakistan Ejaz Gohar and Afghanistan Nuruddin Azizi and Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Dr Jamshid Khodjaev Abdukhakomovich co-chaired the meeting.

An official announcement issued after the meeting said that the three commerce ministers explored investment prospects in various sectors which would open up avenues for joint ventures, public-private partnerships, and increased foreign direct investment.

The discussions focused on reducing trade barriers, simplifying customs procedures, and promoting smoother cross-border trade. It also discussed ways to enhance transportation networks and promote infrastructure development to facilitate the movement of goods.

Mr Ejaz said the trilateral cooperation is expected to stimulate economic growth in all three countries. He said Pakistan, Afg­h­a­nistan, and Uzbekistan can tap into new markets and expand their economies by leveraging their strengths and resources.

The Afghan embassy in Islamabad announced via a tweet that a delegation from Afghanistan, headed by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nuruddin Azizi, took part in the trilateral meeting. The dialogue focused on progressing the trans-Afghan project, trilateral transit and trade, addressing obstacles to regional connectivity, and other relevant issues.

Kakar stresses easy visa policy

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has underscored that easy visa procedures, improved banking channels and reciprocal warehousing facilities would further boost trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

Mr Kakar expressed these views in a meeting with Mr Khodjaev along with a seven-member delegation. He also expressed the hope that the business community of both countries could easily achieve the bilateral trade target of $1 billion in a short time.

The Uzbek deputy prime minister along with a seven-member delegation, is on an official visit to Pakistan.

Mr Kakar also appreciated the holding of the first trilateral meeting of the commerce ministers of Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan in Islamabad. The three sides also established a trilateral working group to discuss customs, logistics, trade promotion, tariffs, TIR procedures, etc.

Showing satisfaction at the outcome of the trilateral meeting, the prime minister hoped that the trilateral mechanism would boost trade relations between the three countries. Mr Kakar underlined the need to continue the momentum of people-to-people exchanges.

Deputy Prime Minister Khodjaev briefed Mr Kakar about fruitful meetings with the business community of Pakistan, including the banking and logistics sectors. He expressed the hope that both sides would continue active engagement for the timely completion of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Railway project.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2023