CPEC to provide necessary facility to enhance regional trade: Ambassador Ulanbek Totuiaev

Islamabad: Ambassador of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan Ulanbek Totuiaev has said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will provide the necessary facility to enhance regional trade.

Ambassador Totuiaev maintained that at present the key issue was the difficulties of logistic roots between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan taking into consideration the peculiarities with transiting good via the territories of Afghanistan, and China, and the absence of convenient road and railway connection.

“In this context, I consider it important for governments of both countries to intensify interaction in terms of dealing with these issues,” he highlighted in a statement.

He further said that it was crucial to stress the importance of signing the transit trade agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan, which would open excellent opportunities for the efficient transit of goods.

The envoy said that during the last year, the figures of Kyrgyz-Pakistani trade-economic interaction were not so high.

“However, I, with great optimism, foresee the future rapid development of trade interaction between our states, especially taking into consideration the focus of the governments of both sides, directed on enhancement of cooperation between the countries of the region,” Ulanbek Totuiaev stated.

The Aambassador contended that Kyrgyzstan could play an important role by creating a trade link between South Asia and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries together with countries of the European Union. At the same time, Pakistan could also serve as the gateway for Central Asian States to external markets, especially via its seaports, located in Sindh and Balochistan provinces, he added.

“I truly believe that these peculiarities will serve as a key point for future influence of the trade relations between our countries on regional connectivity,” the Kyrgyz ambassador mentioned.

Ambassador Ulanbek Totuiaev underlined that the bilateral Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan would not only increase the trade volume between the two countries but also act as a catalyst for regional economic integration.

Ulanbek Totuiaev said the implementation of the PTA would serve as a prolific accelerator for enhancement of trade between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan.

“In this regard, I consider it meaningful for both our governments and, especially, concerned authorities to point out specific areas of interest, in which bilateral trade can be the most efficient and mutually profitable,” he added.

The ambassador said by completing this process, both sides will have all necessary information for designing, successful implementation, and further effective usage of the PTA.

He underscored that since Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan had have highly developed agricultural sectors, there was a great potential for the development of cooperation in this sphere.

“In particular, Kyrgyzstani agricultural companies can export dairy products, meat, dry fruits, honey, raw leather, and some cultivated crops such as beans to Pakistan,” he noted.

Ulanbek Totuiaev said that businessmen from the Pakistani side can more actively cooperate with Kyrgyz companies in terms of exporting wheat, flour, citrus fruits, and sugar with further re-exporting it to the countries of Eurasian Economic Union.

He opined that the same operations could be done in spheres of industrial manufacturing, textile, construction materials and others.

Ambassador Totuiaev claimed that in particular, there were great opportunities with regard to exporting of pharmaceutical products from Pakistan to Kyrgyzstan.