MULTAN, May 10: Uzbek embassy's officers ,commercial officer Sayd Ahmdove and visa counselor Shukrat Zaripove have showed interest execution of Multan-Tashkent direct flights and offered cooperation in holding mango festival in Multan while exchanging views with entrepreneurs of Multan on better opportunities of tourism and business in Uzbekistan. A two members delegation from Islamabad Uzbek embassy visited Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Roomi Fabrics and exchanged views with former President of MCCI Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi said that Pakistani entrepreneurs, female business owners in particular, are interested in the trade and investment opportunities Uzbekistan offers."We are planning to take a delegation of entrepreneurs to Uzbekistan and other Central Asian republics to explore markets for value-added products," Several members of the chamber who create leather, handicrafts and jewelry products are interested in joining a MCCI trade delegation to Uzbekistan and other Central Asian states in 2018, he said.Woman entrepreneurs belonging to the textile sector will also go with the delegation to discover the potential for trade in the Central Asian region, he said.Central Asia has great potential as a market for Pakistani exports in value-added products, said Roomi."Expansion in trade and investment between Pakistan and Uzbekistan is basically a private sector initiative ... facilitated by the governments of the two countries," Roomi added.For example, Pakistan can export foods, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and surgical and sporting goods while importing minerals from Uzbekistan. Secretary General of MCCI KHurram Javed Butt said that the move to enhance economic co-operation between the two countries is a positive step with potential for great growth.The two countries could promote joint ventures to manufacture various industrial goods, he said. Such products could be exported to Uzbekistan's neighbours, or Pakistan could buy them back."The volume of bilateral annual trade between the two countries is less than $40 million, but there is huge potential for growth," he said.They also visited Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture and met with faculty members here on Thursday. The Uzbek embassy commercial officer Jasur Sayd Akhmedov and visa counselor Shukrat Zaripove met with MNSUA vice chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Asif Ali and university’s faculty members and exchanged views over matters of mutual interest.The Uzbek embassy commercial officer Sayd Ahmdove said wide opportunities of tourism and business in Uzbekistan. He said that he would submit his recommendations to the Uzbek government to start direct flights from Multan to Tashkent to facilitate imports and exports form city of Multan and southern Punjab areas directly. Uzbek embassy visa counselor Shukrat Zaripove assured full cooperation to MNSUA in holding mango festival. He also discussed matters of mutual interest with faculty members.Earlier, senator Rana Mehmood-ul- Hassan, MPAs Rana Tahir Shabir, Mazhar Abbas Raan, Rai Mansab Ali and MNSUA vice chancellor Prof Dr Asif Ali received the Uzbek delegation when the members reached at the university.Talking to the delegation, the vice chancellor said that Uzbekistan and Pakistan are conjoined Islamic countries.Both the countries are connected with deep relationship. He briefed the delegation about development work at MNSUA. He briefed that new campus of university was in process completion .The vice chancellor said that Pakistan and Uzbekistan have capacity extending cooperation in many fields that can help both the countries. He said that MNSUA has taken measures to improve relationship between Pakistan and Uzbekistan. The MNSUA had first time organized a mango festival in Tashkent last year. The MNSUA has planned to organize second mango festival in Tashkent this year in most befitting manners.MNSUA vice chancellor Prof Dr Asif Ali said that MNSUA has been working to export mango from Pakistan to Uzbekistan, bringing most modern techniques in agriculture and providing training to faculty members and improvement of students.Talking to the delegation senator Rana Mehmoodul Hassan said that trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan can be improved. He said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would also beneficial to Uzbekistan.
