BISHKEK (TCA) — On January 12 in Islamabad, Kyrgyzstan’s Economy Minister Arzybek Kojoshev met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. A Kyrgyz governmental delegation headed by Kojoshev arrived in Islamabad to take part in the 3rd meeting of the Kyrgyz-Pakistani Intergovernmental Commission for trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation, the press service of the Kyrgyz Economy Ministry said.
The Pakistani Prime Minister called on Kyrgyzstan to more actively use the potential of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which can give Kyrgyzstan and all Central Asian countries the shortest access to sea through Pakistan’s ports.
Nawaz Sharif said that promotion of regional connectivity is one of the seven pillars of his Government’s development strategy, Radio Pakistan reported.
He said the strategy has the potential to integrate South Asia, China and Central Asia — the three engines of growth in Asia.
The Prime Minister said the Central Asia-South Asia (CASA-1000) electricity transmission project is moving satisfactorily and the recent meeting of Joint Working Group held in Dubai made some important decisions which will ensure the project’s timely completion.
The Prime Minister said that both Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan are members of Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation and jointly they can achieve the goals of CAREC in the four priority areas including transport, energy, trade policy, and poverty alleviation in the region.
He also emphasized that the present volume of trade between the two countries can be further enhanced and expressed hope that the 3rd session of the Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan Joint Ministerial Commission would prove fruitful in enhancing bilateral trade and economic relations.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Minister for Water and Power and the Kyrgyz Minister of Economy signed a protocol, after the 3rd session of the Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan Intergovernmental Commission.
The sides agreed to take measures for devolving trade and establishing a joint working group on industry.
The Kyrgyz side showed keen interest in Pakistani goods, especially in the surgical, textile, leather, sports, and cutlery sectors.
The two countries also expressed satisfaction with the progress of the CASA-1000 project and resolved to initiate physical work on the project as soon as possible.
