RAWALPINDI: Turkish Ambassador Irfan Neziroglu on Tuesday called for enhanced Turkiye-Pakistan trade and investment cooperation and urged the business community to take advantage of the Turkish market.

Ambassador of the Republic of Turkiye, Irfan Neziroglu, visited the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), where he received the RCCI President, Nosherwan Khalil Khan and office bearers.

The ambassador was accompanied by the Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Turkiye, Enes Malik Cetin. Senior Vice President Waseem Aslam, Vice President Ikram Abbasi, and RCCI executive committee members were also present.

During the interactive meeting, the Turkish ambassador congratulated the newly elected RCCI leadership and extended his best wishes for a successful tenure. He emphasised the need for Pakistan and Turkiye to capitalise on the immense untapped potential in bilateral trade and investment, stating that strong political, cultural, and historical bonds between the two brotherly nations must translate into deeper economic cooperation.

The ambassador noted that bilateral trade remains below its potential despite the longstanding cordial relations between the two countries. He urged Pakistani businessmen to explore opportunities in food, tourism, mining, education, IT, pharmaceuticals, and other sectors, particularly through joint ventures and enhanced private-sector collaboration.

He stressed the importance of greater interaction between chambers of commerce, investors, and business communities of both countries to unlock new avenues of economic growth. He also invited Pakistani businessmen to participate in the Halal Expo in Istanbul from Nov 25–28, along with other trade fairs in Turkiye.

RCCI President Nosherwan Khalil Khan briefed the ambassador on the chamber’s activities, initiatives, and future programs. He assured that RCCI would work closely with the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad to facilitate trade delegations, promote business-to-business engagement, and share sector-specific information for potential joint ventures.

Former RCCI President Sohail Altaf recalled hosting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his tenure as Mayor of Istanbul in 1998. He emphasised the need to transform the longstanding cordial relations between Pakistan and Turkiye into stronger business and economic partnerships.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2026