BISHKEK – Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday agreed on reviving the four-country transit trade pact and making it effective in a bid to strengthen regional economic cooperation. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambaev, following a round of formal talks, agreed to remove obstacles for smooth and effective functioning of ‘Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement’ (QTTA) signed between Pakistan, China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan in 2004.
PM Gilani said Pakistan would also host a meeting of experts from the four member countries. He said he discussed with his Kyrgyz counterpart ways to exploit the potential of cooperation in trade, infrastructure and communication. The two prime ministers termed their comprehensive dialogue encompassing a wide range of issues as “opening of a new chapter in bilateral relations”.
He said the tremendous potential in bilateral trade and commerce remained largely untapped for which the two sides agreed to set up a Joint Business Council for enhanced interaction between their Chambers of Commerce and Industries. Kyrgyz Prime Minister Almazbek Atambaev said Kyrgyzstan was interested in using Pakistan’s seaports especially the Gwadar port.
Earlier, both the prime ministers signed a Joint Declaration that announced establishment of Joint Business Council, declaration of Islamabad and Kyrgyz capital Bishkek as sister cities, cooperation in intelligence-sharing, checking drug-trafficking in the region and exchange of parliamentary delegations. The Joint Declaration affirmed comprehensive cooperation in trade, economic relations and investment.
It was agreed that new impetus would be given to develop economy through Pakistani investments in the spheres of transport, logistics, light industry, textiles, power, agriculture and tourism. Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan also agreed to cooperate in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. The parties expressed interest for cooperation in the framework of Central Asia-South Asia Regional Electricity Market (CASAREM) to allow power export from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Gilani and his Kyrgyz counterpart also witnessed the signing of an Agreement on military training and a Memorandum of Understanding on enhancing the volume of bilateral trade. The Agreement on defence training was signed by Secretary Defence Lt Gen (retd) Syed Athar Ali and his Kyrgyz counterpart. The MoU on trade was inked by President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Senator Ghulam Ali and Marat Sharshekeev, head of the Kyrgyz Commerce and Industry Chamber.
The MoU focuses on enhancing the volume of bilateral trade and exploring the business potential in diverse areas. The delegation-level talks were supported by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, Secretary Defence Lt Gen (retd) Syed Athar Ali, Pakistan’s ambassador Tanvir Akhtar Khaskheli and President FPCCI Senator Ghulam Ali leading a 12-member group of businessmen.
