Members of a delegation from Turkey underscored the need for signing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with a view to boosting the existing trade ties between Pakistan and Turkey.
Exchanging views during their visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the delegation members representing Turkish electrical appliances sector, expressed keenness to share technology and undertake joint ventures with their counterparts in Pakistan.
The Turkish delegation, which was led by Electrical Electronics and Services Exporters Association (EESEA) Turkey Vice President Dr Guven Uckan and included EESEA Vice President Mehmet Kavakhoglu, EESEA Management Board Member Atilla Eren and EESEA Management Board Member Hakan Ozturk, while Commercial Attaché of Consulate General of Turkey Murat Mustu also accompanied the delegation.
KCCI President Younus Muhammad Bashir, KCCI Senior Vice President Zia Ahmed Khan, KCCI Vice President Muhammad Naeem Sharif, former KCCI SVP Muhammad Ibrahim Kasumbi, KCCI Special Committee for My Karachi Exhibition Chairman Muhammad Idrees and KCCI Managing Committee members were also present at the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Commercial Attaché of Turkish Consulate in Karachi Murat Mustu said that it was the second delegation to Pakistan as a similar delegation from Jewelers Association of Turkey also visited Karachi last year which succeeded in building goods business relations with their counterparts in Pakistan.
Commenting on production of electrical appliances and machineries being produced in Turkey, he said that high quality textile machines were being produced in Turkey and that the same were being exported to the European Union. These products were much better as compared to similar machineries being produced by China, he claimed, adding that these machines and electrical equipment could also be exported to Pakistan but the custom duty rates were a bit high, which can only be reduced by signing the FTA which was currently being negotiated.
Leader of the delegation, Dr Guven Uckan said that Turkish companies wanted to enhance business with Pakistan by holding business-to-business meetings and seek ways on how to do business together. “We want to do business by undertaking joint ventures either in your country or in ours, and we are looking forward to sharing technology with Pakistan,” he added.
He hoped that FTA between the two countries would soon be inked, which would surely create a win-win situation for the business communities of the two brotherly countries.
Earlier, while welcoming the delegation, KCCI President Younus Muhammad Bashir said that it was heartening to note that numerous delegations representing various sectors of the Turkish economy had been visiting KCCI from time to time with a view to look for opportunities for enhancing trade and investment between the two brotherly countries.
