ISLAMABAD, December 3, 2024: Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Irfan Neziroglu held a meeting to explore ways to enhance trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Turkey.
The discussion highlighted the long-standing historical, cultural, and strategic ties between the two nations, with both sides emphasizing the need to unlock the full trade potential of their relationship.
Both leaders expressed a shared vision of increasing bilateral trade and exploring new opportunities for collaboration.
Minister Jam Kamal Khan highlighted the operationalization of the “Trade in Goods Agreement” in May 2023, which provided tariff concessions on Pakistani and Turkish products, as a significant step forward.
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He stressed the importance of creating a business-friendly environment to empower the private sector, emphasizing that the focus should now be on facilitating private businesses to lead the growth in trade.
He also pointed out the significance of business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking initiatives in strengthening economic ties.
Ambassador Neziroglu proposed that a Pakistani delegation visit Turkey in January 2025 to discuss actionable steps in preparation for a high-level state meeting planned in Islamabad.
Minister Khan also mentioned his recent meeting with Turkish counterpart Dr. Omer Bolat in Karachi, where the idea of matchmaking among the business communities of both countries was discussed. Both sides agreed to explore joint venture opportunities.
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Additionally, the minister referenced the establishment of the Joint Task Force on Textiles, a mechanism created following discussions at the 2023 COMCEC Ministerial Meeting, aimed at rationalizing tariffs and boosting the textile value chain.
Both the minister and the ambassador agreed on the importance of continued government-to-government (G2G) and business-to-business (B2B) engagements to achieve their shared economic goals.
They expressed optimism about the future of Pak-Turkey relations and committed to taking concrete steps to advance bilateral trade and investment.
The proposed delegation to Turkey in January is expected to lay the groundwork for further strengthening trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.