Tajik Foreign Minister, Mr. Sirojidin Aslov expressed Tajik Government’s desire to conclude the Pakistan Afghanistan Tajikistan Trilateral Transit Trade Agreement at the earliest as it is in the best interest of the peoples of South Asian and Central Asian region. He made these remarks co-chairing the gathering of Pakistani and Tajik business community along with Federal Minister for Commerce, Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan, says a Press Release received from Islamabad today.
Tajikistan is increasingly becoming a popular business destination for Pakistani entrepreneurs as Pakistani businessmen have invested more than $14 million in Tajikistan since 2007. There are 40 Pakistani companies registered in Tajikistan and contributing with their expertise in some niche sectors. Tajikistan produces finest quality cotton fiber but lack the technical sophistication to convert that into high-end fashion products for markets of the West which Pakistani textile companies possess. The two leaders vowed to initiate joint business programs to harness the investment potential both countries present to each other.
Mr. Aslov said that Tajikistan is reforming its laws to provide adequate safeguards to foreign investments and remove administrative barriers in the smooth in-flow of investments. He apprised the Pakistani investors that Tajikistan is rich in natural resources and around 40 kinds of metals are extracted from Tajikistan which provide golden opportunity for the investors to establish metal industry in Tajikistan. He also informed the facilities offered by Tajikistan’s four Free Economic Zones which provide several types of tax holidays for the investors.
Mr. Dastgir emphasized the need to establish direct rail and road links between the two countries to encourage the investors to move across the two countries. He said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor will link Pakistan, China and the Central Asian regions thus becoming the back-bone of trade and commerce in the region. He invited the Tajik investors to work alongside Pakistani and Chinese investors to reap the fruits of this $46 billion project of development of energy sector, industry and infrastructure.
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