ISLAMABAD: Kyrgyzstan has shown a willingness to sign Transit Trade Agreement (TTA) with Pakistan as its concerned ministries are working on the proposed draft shared by Islamabad, well informed sources told Business Recorder.
This was indicated by Kyrgyz Minister for Economy and Commerce Daniyar Amangeldiev at a meeting with Pakistan’s caretaker Minister for Power and Petroleum, Muhammad who was in Bishkek to attend the fourth session of Pak-Kyrgyz Joint Minister Commission (JMC) held on 9-10 November 2023.
According to sources, Kyrgyz Minister stated that he discussed the issue of TTA with Pakistan’s caretaker Minister for Commerce and Industries and Production, Gohar Ijaz recently in Uzbekistan.
He further maintained that the Kyrgyz side is also discussing TTA matter with Kazakhstan and other members of Eurasian Union, for a common position which would be shared with Islamabad.
Referring to the presence of 11,000 Pakistani students in Kyrgyz medical universities, he requested Pakistan to expedite accreditation requests of five Kyrgyz medial universities pending with Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).
He stated that Kyrgyzstan is ready to extend necessary tax benefits to Pakistani pharmaceutical companies for investment in Kyrgyzstan.
The caretaker Minister for Power and Petroleum declared that the implementation of CASA-1000 project is a top priority of Kyrgyzstan and mentioned that security of the transmission line in Afghanistan is a top priority for all partners.
The caretaker Minister for Power and Petroleum expressed satisfaction at a positive response on TTA and requested Kyrgyz side to nominate a focal person for coordination with Pakistan’s Commerce Ministry. He assured that the opportunities for investment in Kyrgyz pharmaceutical sector would be shared with relevant authorities and agreed to look into the matter of accreditation of Kyrgyz medical universities.
He emphasised that Pakistan is committed to timely completion of CASA-1000 project. In this regard, the Trilateral CASA-1000 Joint Working Group/ Ministerial meeting was expected to be held in Dubai to discuss the possibilities of restarting the project in Afghanistan.
The caretaker Minister stated that completion of CASA-1000 project would increase bilateral trade manifold. He also stated that Pakistan was keen to supply electricity to CASA member countries through this transmission line in winter season resulting in a mutually beneficial exchange; and underlined the need for more frequent high-level bilateral interactions for balanced growth for relations. He called for transforming the current level of relations into a strong economic partnership by focusing on trade, energy cooperation and private sector collaboration.
He noted that current volume of trade of $12 million is below potential and added that Pakistan possessed industrial capacity in textile, surgical instruments, sports goods and pharmaceuticals that could benefit the Kyrgyz economy. There are a number of commodities that the two countries could trade.
The caretaker Minister further stated that Pakistan has received the daft cooperation between Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy which will be finalised in the near future.
He urged Kyrgyz side to utilize the ports of Karachi and Gwadar for transit trade, adding that Pakistan has recently decided to keep the Khunjerab Pass open for transit trade throughout the year, which provides an opportunity of lower transportation cost to Kyrgyz side as compared to other ports in the region.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2023
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