Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Saint Petersburg (Russia) Vice Governor Alexander Prokhorenko have signed a protocol drawn up as a step towards cooperation between the two countries as a follow-up of the official visit of President Asif Ali Zardari earlier this year. Before the signing ceremony, Prokhorenko gave a detailed briefing about the history, economic trade and education system in the region. He informed Shah that the Russian Federation desires to extend friendship to the people of Pakistan through energy projects initiated in the northern parts of the country. He said industrial and intellectual cooperation is very useful for both sides, adding that bilateral trade between the ancient Russian city and Pakistan is less than $100 million that needs to be increased significantly.
He expressed anticipation for investment activity from Pakistani businessmen in St Petersburg. Visits of business communities to each other’s countries would develop close liaison and foster new economic ties, he said. Later, Shah briefed Prokhorenko about the present government’s efforts to develop strong relationship with Russia. He said the guidelines of the protocol would be helpful in developing and maintaining close relationship between the two countries. He also said Pakistan, especially Sindh, has lucrative investment opportunities for which a focal department has been created to facilitate such ventures.
It must be mentioned here that the objectives of the protocol are to assist developing cooperation, experience exchange and implementation of joint development production, engineering te hnology and financial services. It is also intended to exchange delegations to promote information exchange and technology based on mutually developed projects. The protocol further aims to carry out approval procedure through a draft agreement in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The protocol is to be followed by an agreement on cooperation between the two sides. Cooperation in areas including healthcare, social development, youth, sports and long-term cooperation in the areas of industrial production, construction, planning, city management, energy, telecommunication, tourism development and public transport is to be extended through the agreement. All this is expected to be achieved through regular working meetings, consultations and negotiations.
