Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan

On June 28th this year, the "Made in Pakistan" industrial products exhibition commenced in Tashkent. The opening ceremony was attended by Shokhrukh Gulamov, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mangi Ahsan Ali, First Deputy Minister of Trade of Pakistan; Ahmed Faruk, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Pakistan to Uzbekistan; and representatives from ministries, departments, and business circles of both states.

This exhibition is a key milestone in the execution of a joint "Road Map," which is strategically designed to boost the mutual trade turnover between the two nations to the $1 billion mark. The exhibition showcases a rich variety of offerings, including textiles, pharmaceuticals, agricultural commodities, food products, motorcycles, scooters, cosmetics, electrical gadgets, and a suite of services in the IT and logistics sectors from almost 90 premier Pakistani manufacturers and exporters. 
 
During his opening address, Shokhrukh Gulamov highlighted the exhibition's pivotal role in broadening the scope and volume of bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Pakistan. The event has sparked considerable interest among Uzbek stakeholders, attracting over 200 executives from top-tier companies, industry unions, and specialized agencies in Uzbekistan. 
 
The event underscored the significant uptrend in trade and economic partnership metrics. Over the last five years, mutual trade between the two countries has surged threefold, reaching $387 million in 2023. Bilateral agreements on transit and preferential trade have been instrumental, facilitating the duty-free import of 17 types of sought-after goods, with the list poised for further expansion. 
 
The presence of Pakistani capital in Uzbekistan has seen a threefold increase, with the number of enterprises reaching 125. 
 
The event also provided a platform to discuss the favorable conditions Uzbekistan offers to manufacturers and exporters. Pakistani companies were invited to collaborate on new ventures in pharmaceuticals, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, agriculture, chemical, and oil and gas sectors. 
 
Pakistani representatives commended Uzbekistan's conducive business environment and the exemplary organization of the exhibition, urging Pakistani businesses to seize the opportunity for active engagement with Uzbek counterparts. 
 
The program included productive B2B and G2B negotiations, enabling entrepreneurs from both countries to forge valuable connections, explore cooperative development opportunities, and conceptualize new projects. 
 
Additionally, focused discussions between delegation leaders from both countries took place on the sidelines, where they deliberated on concrete actions to further enhance the trade-economic and investment partnership between the two nations.