30.07.2019 İstanbul
Turkey-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Presentation Meeting Forum, with the participation of Turkish and Pakistani Co-Chairmen and members hosted by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu.
TOBB
President Hisarcıklıoğlu extended his condolences for the lives lost as a
result of a military jet of the Pakistani Air Force crashing in the city of Rawalpindi
as well as the late Turkey-Pakistan CCI Forum’s first president, Bünyamin
Karaca.
Stating
that Turkey and Pakistan have strong historical and cultural ties dating back centuries,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Whenever Pakistan has a problem, that is also Turkey’s problem;
whenever we encountered a problem in Turkey, we received Pakistan’s support.
Two nations love each other. Therefore, we support each other and we will
continue to support each other. We cooperate in many areas and work together on
regional development projects, but unfortunately we could not bring economic
cooperation to the desired level. We are together on many platforms. Bilateral
trade between Pakistan and Turkey is only around 700 million USD. Our mutual
trade is not befitting of two sister countries. Our mutual investments are not
at the level we want. Turkey’s direct investment into Pakistan is 1 billion
USD, Pakistan’s direct investments into Turkey is 600 million USD.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
said, “Turkey and Pakistan, in close relationship and cooperation in all areas,
but our trade figures are like a drop of water in the ocean, do not reflect the
potential volume of trade between our countries. This does not make us happy.”
Pointing
out that the figures should be raised, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they are
ready to do whatever they have to do. Pointing out that the visa problem should
be solved between the two countries, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Visa application
stands as a serious obstacle to trade. Especially as the business world, we
need to be rid of this visa problem so that more investment and more mutual
trade can be conducted.
TOBB
President Hisarcıklıoğlu, touching on Turkey’s success in the field of
contracting, especially in infrastructure investments under the Pakistan-China
economic corridor, said that Turkish contractors should take more work.
Daroo
Khan Achakzai, President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry
of Pakistan, pointed out the high potential between the two countries and said
there were some shortcomings in the name of mobilizing it. Achakzai stated that
there is a need for strong political will to move the relationship further and
increase the trade volume, “There are many opportunities both in the Gulf and
Central Asia, and we can do this in cooperation. Without the exchange of
information, without the interaction, bilateral investment, trade and
industrial business, collaborations cannot be raised to the desired level. The
two countries raised their friendship to the highest level as quickly as
possible. Turkey and Pakistan, carrying out commercial activities by opening
their markets to each other, but unfortunately not reflected in many of these
cases the figures. The development of Pakistan's industrial, trade and economic
relations can be done through the development of the trade network. If
bilateral business relations and trade develops between the two countries, this
will be reflected in the figures which will increase.”
Ömer
Bolat said the forum was founded with the great efforts of TOBB President Rifat
Hisarcıklıoğlu. Bolat stated that Turkey and Pakistan are not just friendly
countries but brothers. Bolat reported that Turkish companies have engaged in a
large amount of investments in Pakistan in recent years and that Turkey and
Pakistan would continue their development and cooperation in economic and
social fields together.