ISLAMABAD – Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul Tuesdayexpressed his strong resolve for enhancing bilateral annual trade betweenthe two countries to $ 10 billion.

Addressing business community here at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce andIndustry (ICCI), the ambassador said with stronger efforts from both sidesthe annual trade volume could be raised up to $10 billion.

He said the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a great project forPakistan, however, the Turkish investors were not fully aware about thebusiness prospects in that regard. The Pakistan Business Council, FPCCI andchambers of commerce should inform the Turkish investors about thepotential opportunities of joint ventures (JVs) and investment in CPEC sothat they could take benefit of thoem, he added.

He said the new government of Pakistan had priority focus on buildinglow-cost houses in the country and Turkey with good expertise in buildingsuch houses could help it realize that goal.

The envoy expressed the hope that the current leadership of Turkey andPakistan would finalize free trade agreement that would give boost tobilateral trade between the two countries.Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul said the Turkish companies had invested $2 billionin Pakistan and more could come if apprised of the potential businessprospects. He assured that he would help promote Pakistan’s businessinterests in his country.

He appreciated the ICCI for holding a business opportunities conference inTurkey in the last week of June 2018, saying he was receiving positivefeedback from Turkish businessmen about the event.

Speaking on the occasion, ICCI President Sheikh Amir Waheed said Pakistanand Turkey enjoyed historic cordial relations that should be transformedinto growing trade and economic relations.

He said Pakistan and Turkey were doing trade in limited items and theyshould focus on diversification of trade to achieve better results. Boththe countries should develop direct road and railway links that would helpin improving trade volume, he added.

The ICCI chief identified tourism, information technology, food processing,agro-based industry, dairy development, furniture industry, hospitality,construction and resorts development as potential areas for JVs andinvestment for Turkish investors in Pakistan.He assured that the ICCI would work with the Turkish Embassy for bringingprivate sectors of both the countries closer for trade promotion.