Lahore (TDI): Turkish Consul General in Lahore, Durmus Bastug, visited the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to talk trade and partnerships on Monday, as Turkiye is expressing keen interest in teaming up with Pakistan in areas like IT, tourism, and agriculture.
Bastug said that several Turkish companies are already doing business in Pakistan, a sign, he said, that they trust the local market.
He added that both sides should focus on building stronger ties between business communities, and encouraged more exchange visits between investors and entrepreneurs.
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Speaking during the meeting, LCCI Vice President Shahid Nazir Chaudhry appreciated Turkiye’s support for Pakistan over the years, especially on the diplomatic front. But he was clear about one thing that trade between the two countries is still not where it should be.
Pakistan’s exports to Turkiye were around $337 million in the last fiscal year, while imports stood at $491 million. So, the total trade volume was just under $830 million.
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Chaudhry said the Trade in Goods Agreement, which started in during May 2023, should be used more effectively.
He believes both sides can push the numbers much higher. “With joint effort, there’s no reason we can’t take this to $5 billion in the coming years,” he said.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
