In order to highlight the trade and business opportunities between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) organised Pak-Azerbaijan Business Forum.
Dashgin Sharirov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan, Atadjan N Movlamov, Ambassador of Turkmenistan, Gononov S. Sherali, Ambassador of Tajikistan, Sulyeman Suha Zulfiqar, First secretary Deputy Head of Mission Turkey, Dr Ismatulla Fayzullaev, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Uzbekistan, Dr Muhammad Masoom Yasinzai, VC of Quaid-e-Azam University and International Islamic University and Dr Abdul Basit, Chancellor Preston University, Sahibzada Abdul Qadoos, President of CCCI and Haji Muhammad Zahir, President JCCI were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Dashgin Sharirov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan, said that his country wanted to strengthen its bilateral, economic and commercial ties with Pakistan. He said that Azerbaijan has huge reserves of oil and gas and had expertise in energy sector, while Pakistan had expertise in agriculture sector and dairy products. Therefore, both the countries could cooperate in these areas to further enhance their bilateral relations, he added.
In his welcome address, Zafar Bakhtawari said that Pakistan attached great importance to enhance its relationship with all Central Asian Republic States and countries of ECO region. He said that Pakistan is keen to strengthen its cooperation with Azerbaijan, especially in energy field to overcome the adverse effects of energy crisis on its economy.
ICCI President said that that there should be direct air link between Pakistan and all Central Asian Republic States. He informed the meeting that ICCI also requested Turkish Airline to consider connecting Istanbul and Islamabad via Baku/Dushanbe/Ashkhabad which would directly establish direct air link of Pakistan with Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan.
Dr Muhammad Masoom Yasinzai, Vice Chancellor of Quaid-e-Azam University and International Islamic University and Dr Abdul Basit, Chancellor Preston University emphasised on knowledge-based economy and said both the countries should cooperation in education sector by opening branches of universities in each other countries. They also lauded the initiative of Embassy of Azerbaijan for announcing 36 education scholarships for the deserving students of Pakistan.
