ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan Alisher Takhtayev has announced his government’s plan to introduce a new direct flight route between his country and Karachi this year to promote closer ties between the two countries.
During his official visit to Karachi from January 2 to 4, Ambassador Takhtif addressed members of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the business community in the city.
He highlighted the historical and fraternal ties between Uzbekistan and Pakistan which are rooted in common cultural and religious affiliations.
“Our two nations are closer than ever, thanks to the fulfillment of the long-awaited vision of regional connectivity,” the ambassador said, stressing the ongoing efforts to enhance economic cooperation and strategic cooperation.
Ambassador Takhtayev said Uzbekistan implemented a flexible visa regime for Pakistani citizens in September 2023, facilitating business and tourist travel.
This move, along with the recently launched direct flights between Tashkent and Lahore, underscores Uzbekistan’s commitment to promoting people-to-people connections and fostering mutual understanding.
Highlighting the trade potential, the ambassador said that mutual trade between Uzbekistan and Pakistan has tripled in the last five years, from $122 million in 2019 to $387 million in 2023.
He stressed the untapped opportunities for further cooperation, especially in sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, leather and tannery, food processing and agribusiness.
The Ambassador also lauded the success of the “Made in Pakistan” single country exhibition held in Tashkent last June, which provided an invaluable platform to businessmen of both countries for new trade and investment agreements.
Building on this momentum, he announced plans for a “Made in Uzbekistan” industrial exhibition in Karachi later this year, expressing confidence that it would further strengthen economic ties.
The ambassador invited a delegation of KCCI to visit Uzbekistan and explore investment opportunities in regions like Bukhara, Sardaria, Surakhundaria and Kashkadaria. He assured full cooperation from the Uzbek Embassy in facilitating Government-to-Business (G2B) and Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings during such visits.
“Uzbekistan offers a safe, favorable, and liberal environment for investment,” he urged Pakistani businessmen to take advantage of opportunities in various sectors where Sindh excels. He also welcomed the idea of holding B2B meetings along with visits by business delegations to realize trade and investment prospects.