Pakistan and Uzbekistan will review status of Transit Trade and Transportation Agreement (TTAP) along with other options including Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to bolster bilateral trade in a meeting of Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) scheduled today (Thursday).
Teams from the two countries will discuss the status of proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Central Banks to enhance co-operation in banking. Overland international fibre optic linkage through Uzbekistan will be discussed. Pakistani side will also offer Uzbek team to invest in setting up oil refinery on coastal areas of Balochistan where UAE is to set up Khalifa Refinery.
According to agenda of the meeting, the two sides will focus on measures for early start of PTA and possibilities of purchase of Uzbek cotton by Pakistan. The progress regarding implementation of the decisions taken during 4th session of JMC held in Tashkent in 2009 will be reviewed.
Expansion of bilateral investment co-operation in the following sectors will be discussed: (i) textile industry, leather processing and pharmaceutical industry; (ii) co-operation in food and agriculture (Convening of First of JWG); (iii) co-operation in culture (renewal of CEP for 2011-2015);(iv) co-operation in information and broadcasting (news exchange agreement between APP and UZ-TAG). Co-operation in information technology and telecommunications and offer of services of National Data Registration Authority (NADRA); (v) co-operation in the field of environment; and (vi) expansion of bilateral investment co-operation (Constitution of Joint Working Group) and co-operation in Industries & production/joint ventures.
Constitution of Joint Study Group comprising experts from both sides is also on the agenda with the objective of studying and identifying ways and means to enhance bilateral trade. The other areas of co-operation include: (i) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for co-operation between Chamber of Commerce and Industries; (ii) offering of WTO courses to Uzbek officials in Pakistan; (iii) review of visa regime (finalisation of visa abolition agreement; (iv) co-operation in banking and finance; (v) up-gradation of National Bank of Pakistan, Rep office; (vi) initiating an MoU for co-operation and exchange of information between SECP with its counterparts; (vii) co-operation in power sector; and (viii) co-operation in science & technology (convening of meeting of joint committee on S&T) Pakistan Technical Assistance Programme (PTAP).
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