Gul for boosting Pak-Turkey trade ties



ANKARA  - Turkish President Abdullah Gul Wednesday said that both Pakistan and Turkey needed to focus energies on further enhancing their economic and commercial relations.He was talking to Chairman Board of Investment Saleem H Mandviwala, who is visiting Turkey as a Special Envoy of President Asif Ali Zardari. Mandviwala also delivered a special message of President Zardari to President Gul. President Gul emphasized that the two countries need to make concerted efforts to meet the target of $2 billion bilateral trade by 2012.Mandviwala brought to the notice of President Gul the negative impact of safeguard measures imposed by Turkey on Pakistan’s textile exports and urged the need for urgently concluding a comprehensive Preferential Trade Arrangement between the two countries.President Gul said Turkish leadership was encouraging businessmen to further expand their investment ventures in Pakistan, especially in energy and infrastructure sectors.President Gul also referred to Istanbul-Islamabad cargo goods train project (Gul Train) and stressed the need for its effective and efficient operation. He said it would give momentum to economic activities in the entire region. Mandviwala briefed the Turkish President about the state of Pakistan’s economy and investment policies. He said attractive investment policies such as 100% equity, profit and dividend repatriation make Pakistan a lucrative place for global investment. Secretary Commerce Munir Qureshi, Ambassador of Pakistan to Turkey Muhammad Haroon Shaukat, Consul General Istanbul Dr. Yusuf Junaid and Deputy Head of Mission Moin-ul-Haq were also present in the meeting.

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