Azernews.Az

By Leman Mammadova

The strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan has contributed to the high level of cooperation in economic, trade, military-technical, energy, tourism and other spheres.

Pakistan is interested in the cration of joint ventures with Azerbaijan, Pakistani Ambassador to Azerbaijan Saeed Khan Mohmand said at a press conference dedicated to the presentation of investment opportunities in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

In his words, joint projects can be implemented in various areas of production, particularly in the production of textile products.

“The textile industry is well developed in Pakistan. This is one of the most powerful sectors of the country's economy, which accounts for the largest share of industrial exports,” he said, adding that textile products account for 60 percent in exports to Azerbaijan, while rice holds the second place in the deliveries to Azerbaijan.

Saeed Khan Mohmand noted that the textile industry of Azerbaijan is less developed, but this industry can reach a new level of development due to the economic reforms carried out.

He further noted that the creation of joint ventures with Azerbaijan can be considered in the near future.

Saeed Khan Mohmand pointed to the necessity of building up interaction potential and strengthening ties in the fields of economy and trade. “It is very important to create optimal conditions for doing business for foreign entrepreneurs,for example, to expand the list of benefits, in particular, to reduce tariffs for household and utility services.”

He added that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Pakistan reached $32 million over the past two years, which is an increase of almost four times. He added that prior to that, this figure was about $8 million.

Saeed Khan Mohmand also noted that Pakistan sees great potential for development of bilateral cooperation in the field of tourism.

Saeed Khan Mohmand further stressed that Pakistan supports the principle of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and inviolability of its borders, and is interested in the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

He underlined that Azerbaijan and Pakistan are close strategic partners in the military sphere. “Strategic cooperation between the two countries is at a high level. We fully support Azerbaijan’s position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and stand for the speedy resolution of the long-term conflict on the basis of the requirements of relevant UN Security Council resolutions.”

Pakistan backed Azerbaijan during and after the Nagorno-Karabakh War. Pakistan fully supports Azerbaijan's fair position in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In 2012, Pakistan adopted a resolution strongly condemning the genocide against the civilian population of Khojaly, which was committed by Armenian armed forces. Then, in October 2013, the Pakistani Senate adopted a document supporting the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

During the press conference, Faiz Muhammad Faizi, Head of Pakistan’s Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said that his country is interested in attracting investors from Azerbaijan.

He noted that Pakistan expects to expand cooperation with Azerbaijan, especially in investment and tourism.

“Our delegation arrived in Baku, which includes 150 representatives of Pakistani business. We plan to hold B2B meetings with Azerbaijani partners in the production, trade and energy,” he said, stressing that strengthening cooperation in the investment and tourism is a priority, since there is a potential for comprehensive cooperation and it must be used to the maximum in the future.

Pakistan became the second country after Turkey that recognized the independence of Azerbaijan in 1991. The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on June 9, 1992.

Today, about 300 companies and entrepreneurs from Pakistan operate in Azerbaijan. The work on the establishment of direct flights between the two countries is currently underway.

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Leman Mammadova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @leman_888

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