HE Mr. Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Pakistan visited Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry to interact with the Business Community of Sialkot. The Ambassador was welcomed by Mr. Abdul Ghafoor Malik, President SCCI and during the meeting, the President SCCI said that both Azerbaijan and Pakistan should put joint efforts to establish channels that promote direct Business to Business linkages.
Mr. Malik said that Pakistan foresee Azerbaijan as brotherly country and was keen to untap the potential that exists on both sides. He mentioned that Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry would send a Trade Delegation of prominent Product sectors of Sialkot to Azerbaijan, to have business to business interactions of Pakistani business community with Azeri counterparts.
H.E. Mr. Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan while addressing the participants of the meeting praised the achievements of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry and said that Azerbaijan would be signing Preferential Trade Agreement with Pakistan, which would help businessmen on both sides to increase economic relations. He added that last year the trade volume of Pakistan and Azerbaijan has increase three times, through joint efforts from both sides.
During the meeting The Ambassador mentioned that Azerbaijan could be a gateway for Pakistani Businessmen to tap neighboring countries through Azerbaijan with the agreement. The Envoy endorsed the suggestion of President SCCI for sending trade delegation and added that Azeri Mission in Pakistan had already conducted trade delegations with Faisalabad, Islamabad and Gujranwala Chambers of Commerce and industry, in the past. H.E. Mr. Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan mentioned that Azerbaijan was open to join hands for investments with Pakistan to cooperate in the non-oil energy, health, and agriculture sectors. The Ambassador added that Azerbaijan was a great market for sectors like Rice, Martial Arts, Football and Surgical and Beauty care Instruments of Industry of Sialkot. The Envoy mentioned that Azerbaijan was keen to increase people to people linkages, and the Azerbaijan Mission in Pakistan would ensure that the Businessmen from Sialkot could meet relevant buyers and importers during the visit of Trade Delegation to Azerbaijan, as Government of Azerbaijan was interested to promote trade from Sialkot to Azerbaijan.
Pakistan can import both crude and refined oil from Azerbaijan at reasonable rates. Also, it can be a good market for Pakistani products like iron, steel, food, natural juices, meat, and milk. Pakistan can also get the best opportunities quota for its skilled/unskilled manpower in Azerbaijan.
Although Pakistan and Azerbaijan are considered strategic partners, there is too much room for growth of bilateral economic cooperation. The two nations have signed many agreements related to tourism, business, trade, and strategic issues but still there is a need to reframe the bilateral socio-economic linkages according to modern trends.