The business community of South Punjab has stressed the need for promotion of exports to Central Asian States (CAS), in order to implement on the Prime Minister's vision of regional connectivity for enhanced economic integration and to follow up on initiatives. President of Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi said that Ministry of Commerce should focus on the trade with Central Asian States Particularly, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
He said that Pakistan could easily boost up its exports to $30 billion per annum by exploring new markets and neglected areas. Roomi said that Pakistan should exchange trade delegations with central Asia states to bring them closer to Pakistan. The minister welcomed the delegation and said that the visit would be helpful in promoting trade and economic relations between the two countries.
Major export commodities include energy products, cotton, gold, minerals, fertilisers, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, textiles, foodstuffs, machinery and automobiles while the major import commodities include machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, he added.
Jalaluddin Roomi said that there were certain issues that hamper expansion of bilateral trade like lack of Direct Cargo Links, Safe and Direct Land Routes, Marketing Strategies, Knowledge of Pakistani Products, Visa Facilitation and Costlier Transportation by Air. He said, "Barriers and challenges are there but CAS and Pakistan should work together to remove the barriers and facilitate the trade. In this regard, a Central Asia Trade Caravan /Roadshow including single country exhibition should be planned to be held during next year."
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