Trade promotion with Central Asian states reviewed

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has expressed her government’s desire for Turkmenistan to benefit from the province’s rewarding investment opportunities in the energy, industry, livestock and agriculture sectors.

During a meeting with Turkmenistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Atadjan Nurlyevich Movlamov, she discussed various possibilities of increasing cooperation between Punjab and Turkmenistan for the promotion of trade and investment. She said, “Trade in textile, pharmaceutical, agriculture and livestock sectors can be increased.”

The chief minister also reviewed suggestions to strengthen relations between Punjab and Turkmenistan both at the governmental and people-to-people levels.

According to a statement, the ambassador of Turkmenistan appreciated the vison of the chief minister for the promotion of bilateral trade and investment relations.

Meanwhile, during a meeting with Kazakhstan’s Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said, “Punjab has lucrative investment opportunities. We want to benefit from Kazakhstan's expertise in the energy, mining and industrial sectors.”

She said, “We want to increase cooperation in various sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, renewable energy and technology.”

Matters related to strengthening economic relations between Punjab and Kazakhstan were discussed in the meeting.

Possibilities of exporting textiles, surgical instruments, sports equipment, commodities, citrus fruits and vegetables from Punjab to Kazakhstan also came under discussion.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafan agreed to work for the promotion of partnership in trade and investment.

On the occasion, the chief minister announced scholarships for the children of martyrs to study in Kazakhstan.

The Kazakhstan ambassador acknowledged Pakistan's crucial role as a natural link between the Eurasian region and the Arabian Sea and South Asia. He invited the Punjab chief minister to visit Kazakhstan, which she accepted.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2024.