Tazeen Akhtar / Islamabad
Azerbaijan and Pakistan are transforming cordia political relations into meaningful economic cooperation promoting bilateral trade engagements and agreements. The latest in this regard is Azerbaijani-Pakistani business forum held in Baku on 16 Sep 2024.
It was a well attended forum having extensive B2B meetings that paved the way forward to further increase mutual trade in different sectors.
Deputy Economy Minister Samad Bashirli, Chairman of Azerbaijan’s Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) Orkhan Mammadov participated in the forum from Azerbaijan side and apprised Pakistani businessmen about the conducive policies of doing business in Azerbaijan.
From Pakistan, Federal Secretary of Commerce Mr. Jawad Paul, and Ambassador to Azerbaijan Qasim Mohiuddin were present along with a large number of Pakistani business community representatives. They addressed the forum and invited Azerbaijani businessmen to visit Pakistan. They shed light on the foreign investment friendly environment available in Pakistan.
Deputy Economy Minister Samad Bashirli, in his address in the forum, said that the possibility of establishing an Azerbaijani Trade House and a Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Pakistan is being explored.
He pointed out that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Pakistan hit the $27 million mark in 2023, with most of it being imports from Pakistan. However, there’s a goldmine of potential waiting to be tapped for further developing mutual trade.
The non-oil industry, he claims, has enormous untapped potential, especially in the travel, pharmaceutical, and transportation sectors.
He added that Azerbaijan and Pakistan have strong, multifaceted ties based on deep friendship, brotherhood, and alliance.
“These close ties have elevated our cooperation to the level of strategic partnership. The Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, signed in 2015, has significantly contributed to the long-term development of relations between our countries,” the deputy minister also pointed out.
Besides, according to him, Azerbaijan is considering investment opportunities in Pakistan’s oil and gas sector.
Bashirli noted a potential for joint efforts between Azerbaijan and Pakistan in both the oil and non-oil sectors, as well as in space industry projects that demonstrate high investment viability.
He also emphasized the significant prospects for cooperation in areas such as transportation, hydrometeorology, and climate change mitigation.
“We are also exploring investment opportunities in Pakistan’s oil and gas sector and the development of precious metal resources. The energy sector remains a focal point, and both countries are considering potential pathways for further partnership,” the official added.
Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of Azerbaijan’s Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) noted this year has been particularly notable for business engagements between the two countries.
He said, “During a recent state visit by the President of Azerbaijan to Pakistan our MoU with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) of Pakistan was signed. We also expect to expand partnership with Chamber of Small Business and Industrialists of Islamabad and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry to get mutual benefit on institutional level and for the interests of our business communities.”
Orkhan Mammadov added, “We also expect to expand partnership with Chamber of Small Business and Industrialists of Islamabad and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry to get mutual benefit on institutional level and for the interests of our business communities.”
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