Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Pakistan Mr. Furqat Sidiqov called on Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan here in Islamabad today. The Minister for MNFS&R is also co-chair from Pakistan side for the Uzbek Joint Inter-Governmental Commission (JIGC). The next session of which is scheduled to be held in March next year in Tashkent. MoU in the area of agriculture is expected to be signed in the next session of the Joint Inter – Governmental commission (JIGC). The exchange of high level delegation between the two countries took place last year and both the countries mutually agreed to move ahead in the field of agro-cooperation and it is expected that MoU will be signed soon after completion of internal formalities. Federal Minister Mehboob Sultan said that the trade volume between the two countries could be increased and uzbek exporters should be directly accessed by the Pakistan cotton importers as the cotton imported through Afghan border last month was actually uzbek cotton hence both the countries should do away with negative market forces. Federal Minister further said that we are in need of viable agro machinery and especially cotton related machinery and tractors which could be imported from Uzbekistan and in the long run (after the signing of MoU) the technology could be shared with local manufacturers through mutual agreement. It is interesting to note that Pakistan imports vegetables and fruit worth of USD 70 million from Uzbekistan and Pakistan exports sugar, potatoes and citrus fruit and other worth of USD 60 million to Uzbekistan. Pakistan is second biggest trade partner of Uzbekistan in the Central Asian region after Russia. In this backdrop the Federal Minister expressed his desire that it is expedient to move ahead in the field of research and technology sharing as Uzbekistan is self-sufficient in cotton seeds and Pakistan can import these seeds as these are resistant to various diseases. Moreover our researchers are eager to learn new techniques to enhance the yield and move towards the goal of self-sufficiency in the field of agriculture and food, Uzbekistan is a brotherly country and can help in the field of research as there is an academy of cotton which could be beneficial for our students and researchers. The exchange of students will also be a major part of the upcoming MoU between the two countries. Uzbek Ambassador told the honorable Minister Mehboob Sultan that Samarkand and Bukhara are unique agriculture centers, where cotton clusters are built/made for the small farmers , this is a kind of facility for the cotton producers where all the process from growing to packing is done , he said Pakistan can also adopt that idea , he further apprised the Federal Minister that Uzbekistan cotton picking tool and ten tractors are working in Pakistan on trial basis and that the cotton picking implement is quite handy and beneficial. It was discussed in the subject meeting that Uzbekistan can expand its tractor and other agro-machinery market in Pakistan and asked about the list of local manufacturers and importers. He said there are certain taxation issues due to which the cost of tractors is relatively higher and it should be discussed and resolved. The Uzbek Ambassador said that regarding the import of uzbek cotton through torkham border we can adopt new approach and centralize the whole system and do away with “shadow economy”, he also informed that they still have 100,000 metric ton cotton and they can export that. He also said that they have the capacity to make their own cotton seeds and they could make special seeds for Pakistan and interesting thing about those seeds is that those are naturally resistant to various diseases and hence a small amount of pesticides is needed. The Uzbek ambassador told the minister that to facilitate the trade a proposal for a 700km long railway line is in the process which will pass through Uzbakistan, Russia, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and also in order to boost trade a trilateral commission is also proposed by the Uzbek side and if materialized it will be beneficial for the landlocked countries and time and money could be saved. Federal Minister Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan welcomed the proposal regarding Pakistan assistant in fisheries sector and the Minister also said that our government is going to launch a mega project in all 4 provinces and resultantly there will be tremendous increase in export of fisheries. Ambassador said Uzbekistan imports 5 million tons of sugar and can resort to Pakistan as we still need sugar, to which Federal Minister apprised that we have 1.8 million tons of surplus sugar. Similarly we could export dairy and meat and find a new market in the region. Federal Minister welcomed the proposals and resolved to move ahead in various areas in agriculture sector especially agro machinery and also work towards increasing trade volume. The Uzbek Ambassador invited the Minister to various agriculture facilities and institutions. Federal secretary and senior officials from the Ministry were also present on the occasion. *****
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