ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Sardar Azhar Tariq Khan has said that promoting bilateral trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan could be a milestone in regional and global trade integration and connectivity.
Talking to the state-run news agency on Sunday, he said the geo-strategic position of Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan highlights their geo-economic importance, which could play a significant role in promoting trade connectivity amongst different regions and potential markets of the world.
The ambassador said that Pakistan is currently a major player in global and regional trade, bordering the Middle East and South Asian states on the one hand and the global economic power China on the other.
He said the geographical location of Kyrgyzstan offers many opportunities for trade with Pakistan as it is the shortest entry point of Pakistani products to the ‘Eurasian economic markets’ of 182 million people comprising Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Armenia.
The ambassador said a trade delegation from Pakistan may visit Kyrgyzstan soon to look for new markets for our products. The trade turnover of the Kyrgyz Republic with Pakistan amounted to 5.9 million dollars in 2021 with Pakistan’s exports amounting to 5.3 million dollars and imports 0.6 million.
Sardar Azhar said that goods once exported to Kyrgyzstan can be further transported to the Eurasian markets without payment of customs duties. Furthermore, Kyrgyzstan has flourishing construction and hoteling industries, he added.
The Pakistan’s envoy said that many high-rise buildings for shopping malls, apartments and hotels are currently being constructed mostly by Turkish firms for which raw material is being imported from other countries. He said that construction material from Pakistan can also be exported.
As per figures provided by the host Foreign Office, the trade turnover of the Kyrgyz Republic with Pakistan amounted to US$ 5.9 million in 2021 with Pakistan’s exports amounting to US$ 5.3 million and imports US$ 0.6 million, he said.
Azhar said that main items of Pakistani exports include machinery and equipment, products made of non-precious metals, plastic products, leather products and cosmetics. Pakistan imported beans, canned meat and fish, wood products, tanned leather and aviation kerosene, he said.
The ambassador said that Pakistan basically exports pharmaceutical products, oranges, rice, sports items, surgical instruments, textiles and garments to Kyrgyzstan. In addition, Pakistan could export its surplus fresh fruits and vegetables especially during winter season when there is acute shortage of fresh fruits and vegetables in Kyrgyzstan, he said.
