Islamabad, Nov 8: Tajikistan Trade Delegation Visits PCJCCI to Explore Bilateral Trade and Investment Opportunities. A delegation of five members from Tajikistan visited the Pakistan China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) on Friday to explore potential sectors for trade between Pakistan, China, and Tajikistan.
The meeting included Nazir Hussain, President of PCJCCI, Brig. (Retd.) Mansoor Saeed Sheikh, Senior Vice President of PCJCCI, Zafar Iqbal, Vice President, Salahuddin Hanif, Secretary General, and the members of the executive committee of PCJCCI. The delegation was led by Daler Qodiri, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Fayz Technology (Group of Companies).
The PCJCCI President emphasized that enhanced bilateral trade could foster economic growth for both Pakistan and China’s overarching aim to ensure regional stability. Pakistan aims to create a direct trade route with Tajikistan and secure road access to Central Asian nations by leveraging the corridors connected to China and Afghanistan.
He noted that China is currently Tajikistan’s primary source of foreign investment and a key trading ally. Tajikistan is eager to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as its challenging landscape and connectivity issues necessitate substantial investments in infrastructure and construction, leading to improved economic integration and trade enhancement.
Daler Qodiri, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Fayz Technology (Group of Companies) in Tajikistan, stated that based on data from China Customs, the trade volume between China and Tajikistan reached USD 1.68 billion in 2019, reflecting an 11.21 percent increase year-on-year. China exported USD 1.59 billion to Tajikistan, marking an 11.27 percent rise year-on-year, while Tajikistan’s exports to China totaled USD 85 million, which is a 10.12 percent increase year-on-year.
While trade numbers between the two nations dipped in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first half of 2021 saw a gradual recovery with a year-on-year growth of 44.6 percent. He also highlighted that in the last five years, Pakistan’s exports to Tajikistan have risen at an annual rate of 4.88 percent, going from USD 15.8 million in 2017 to USD 20.1 million in 2022.
Brig. Mansoor Saeed Sheikh (Retd), Senior Vice President of PCJCCI, indicated that trade between Pakistan and Tajikistan could yield significant benefits for both nations, as they are both developing countries rich in natural resources. Pakistan stands to gain by exporting worn clothing to Tajikistan, where such clothing is in high demand.
To capture the Tajikistan market and compete with other nations, Pakistan should negotiate a 15 percent tariff on this commodity, focusing on potential trade with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.Zafar Iqbal, Vice President of PCJCCI, emphasized the need to expedite projects similar to CPEC in Pakistan, along with developments at the Gwadar port, as these will connect Pakistan with Tajikistan through routes like Gwadar-Peshawar-Kabul-Kunduz-Dushanbe, Chitral-Eshkhahim-Dushanbe, and Khunjrab-Kalasu-Murghab.
Salahuddin Hanif, Secretary General of PCJCCI, stated that the Pakistan China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry continually plays a crucial role in fostering trade and investment among China, Pakistan, and other Islamic nations, expressing hope that Pakistan, China, and Tajikistan will thrive together under the initiatives of BRI and CPEC.
