Pakistan and Uzbekistan agreed on Wednesday to expand bilateral trade to $2 billion as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent. The development comes days after a similar agreement to boost investments to $2bn was reached with Azerbaijan during the premier\u2019s two-day official visit there, which he concluded yesterday. The prime minister had arrived in Tashkent yesterday evening on a two-day official visit to strengthen bilateral and trade relations. Pakistan and Uzbekistan have strengthened ties through trade and economic cooperation. A $1 billion trade deal was signed in 2023, and plans for further collaboration, including a roadmap for industrial cooperation, show the two sides\u2019 commitment to boosting regional connectivity. Earlier today, PM Shehbaz was welcomed by Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev today at the Tashkent Congress Centre, where both leaders held a bilateral meeting. Following their meeting, PM Shehbaz and President Mirziyoyev witnessed a ceremony where several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed between the two countries in various areas. Speaking on the occasion, President Mirziyoyev said: \u201cWe came to the conclusions on different spheres and mutual trade turnover had exceeded 400 million and we have plans to increase that to $2bn.\u201d He termed the negotiations between them \u201cvery fruitful\u201d, adding that there was a \u201cnew direction\u201d for them for future goals. The president said: \u201cThe modern state of Pakistan is our trusted partner, trusted by time, and a promising ally whose international reputation is steadily growing. \u201c[\u2026] Despite current global challenges, the honourable prime minister is carrying out tremendous work to ensure peace and stability, improve the living standards of the population and accelerate economic growth.\u201d Congratulating the Pakistani government on those \u201cachievements\u201d, he noted that the relations between the two countries had been developing \u201cdynamically\u201d. President Mirziyoyev noted that joint ventures between Pakistan and Uzbekistan have reached 130 while trade houses had been opened in Karachi and Tashkent. \u201cAir travel has been launched between Tashkent and Lahore,\u201d he highlighted, adding that it was also agreed to open new routes, including flights between Samarkand, Bukhara and Karachi. He stated that the intergovernmental commission was working effectively while \u201cpolitical consultations, business events and exhibitions of our national products have been successfully organised\u201d. President Mirziyoyev noted that a \u201clarge delegation of leading Pakistani\u201d had arrived in Tashkent, with Uzbek partners participating in meetings with them and holding dialogues on partnership agreements. Inviting Pakistani companies to work in his country, he said: \u201cI would like to also present to Pakistani companies what the conditions are in Uzbekistan and we are ready to create all the necessary conditions for them to come to Uzbekistan.\u201d \u201cWe confirm our shared commitment to strengthening the bonds of longstanding friendship and for the developing cooperation, we have signed important agreements,\u201d the Uzbekistan president affirmed. He also announced the visits of the head of Uzbekistan\u2019s central bank to Pakistan and his counterpart, the State Bank of Pakistan governor, to Tashkent. Detailing other decisions made during their meeting, he said that a high-level strategic council would be established between the two nations. \u201cOnce in two months, we will have calls over mobile phones. Once a month, all ministries and relevant bodies, in an online format, will be reporting to us on the implementation of those instructions and measures. \u201cWe did not have this kind of approach with [any] other countries,\u201d Mirziyoyev highlighted, adding that the strategic council would ensure the efficient implementation of those directives. The president thanked the premier for his \u201cwarm words\u201d for the Uzbek people. \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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