KARACHI – President Dr Arif Alvi on Saturday said Pakistan and Turkey werelikely to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) soon, which would boost theirbilateral trade.
“During my recent visit to Istanbul, I talked to Turkish President TayyipErdogan on the FTA. Seven meetings had been held in the past, but the FTAcould not be finalized because of certain concerns shown by Turkey. Now,these hindrances will be removed and the FTA will be finalized soon,” headded.
The president was speaking at the launching ceremony of 16th International“My Karachi : Oasis of Harmony” exhibition-2019 at a hotel here. The 3-dayinternational trade event will start from April 5, 2019.
The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has been organizing theinternational exhibition every year since 2004 to project Pakistan’s softimage and potential before the world ; especially the West where negativepropaganda about the country was at its peak.Chairman Businessmen Group Siraj Kassam Teli, KCCI President M JunaidMakda, former KCCI president Haroon Farooki, M.Zubair Motiwala, AnjumNisar, Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra, A.Q. Khalil, Tahir Khaliq, Myjed Aziz,M.Younas Bashir and M.Jawed Bilwani and KCCI Advisor on Electrical AffairsEngr Wali Muhammad Rahimoon were prominent among those who attended theceremony.
The president said his Turkish counterpart agreed that more serious andconcrete steps were needed to be taken for increasing bilateral trade,which had decreased to $600 million from $1billion per year.
He said the Turkish government, business community and the people ingeneral gave great importance and respect to Pakistan and its citizens.Turkish investors were keen to invest in various sectors in Pakistan, headded.
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Four Turkish companies, he said, were ready to bring $1.5 billioninvestment to Pakistan. However, there were certain issues needed to beaddressed before their arrival, he added.Albania, who is a member of European Union, also expressed deep interest inPakistan’s goods trade to European countries through Albania after somevalue-addition there.
Dr Alvi assured that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leadership would honourits promises and commitments which it made with the trade and industrialcommunity before the general election. Besides better law and order, thegovernment was going to take important and long-lasting measures to bringdown the cost of doing and ensure ease of doing business.“At least, I shall fulfill my promises and will make every effort in thisregard,” he said.
He said the PTI government was taking concrete measures on short and longterms to provide a business friendly environment, including security tolife and property of the business community and the people in general.After maintaining law and order in the country, he said, elimination ofcorruption was imperative to attract local and foreign investment.
