Ambassador of The Republic of Uzbekistan Oybek Arif Usmanov called on FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh at the capital office in Islamabad and discussed various issues including bilateral trade, mutual cooperation, investment, Pakistan Uzbekistan Business Council, and exchange of trade delegations. The Uzbek ambassador was accompanied by Bakurum Yusov, Economic and Trade Consul of Uzbekistan.

FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh said that Pakistan is a brotherly country of Uzbekistan. Pakistan’s exports with Uzbekistan have increased gradually in the last years, and bilateral trade can be promoted in textile, pharmaceutical, rice, machinery, agriculture machinery, electro-technical and other sectors. There is a need to explore different avenues to further promote this bilateral trade.

Atif Ikram added that “we will participate in the single country exhibition to be held in Uzbekistan on June 28. Pakistanis have the problem of business visa, tourist visa, flights to Uzbekistan which should be solved. The first Gems and Jewellery Exhibition is being held in Pakistan in collaboration with TDAP and Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in which Uzbek businessmen who belong to this sector should participate and you provide us their names too.”

Uzbek Ambassador Oybek Arif Usmanov said that Uzbekistan is organizing an International Business Forum on May 3 and 4, in which FPCCI and the business community are invited to participate; while the Minister of Uzbek Foreign Affairs will visit Pakistan on May 9-10. There will be G2B and B2B meetings. Trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan is suffering due to Afghanistan, so there is a need to start the Afghanistan-Pakistan Corridor. Direct flights will be started from Islamabad and Lahore, resolving visa issues soon.