Ambassador of Azerbaijan Khazar Farhadov said on Saturday that Azerbaijan wanted to sign Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Pakistan to boost bilateral economic relations.
He said that Azerbaijan has started direct flights from Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad to Azerbaijan and as a result, 50,000 Pakistanis flown to Azerbaijan last year. This has also helped to increase the trade turnover three times.
He was talking to business community here at Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) where LCCI President Kashif Anwar, Azerbaijan Embassy’s 3rd Secretary Behbud Gadali and LCCI Executive Committee members also spoke on the occasion.
The Ambassador recalled that in one and half years, since he came to Pakistan as an ambassador, this was his third visit to LCCI which showed their intent for the business and trade relations with Pakistan. Lahore Chamber was a biggest chamber and also represented the provincial capital of the largest province of the country, he said and added that this also showed the possibilities and opportunities both countries possessed.
The Ambassador also emphasized on the need for exhibitions which he termed most important and significant to increase bilateral trade. “We have already delegations from Islamabad and Gujranwala Chambers and we hope to see a delegation from LCCI very soon. We have a very easy visa process which takes only three hours to get Azerbaijan visa. Trade is not only government’s or business community’s task but all the segments of society can also help in this regard as we believe that today’s tourists can be a tomorrow’s trader or student or a high government official.”—APP
