The Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade hosted the First Meeting of Uzbekistan – Pakistan Joint Working Group on Trade and Economic Issues.

The meeting was attended by the heads of key ministries and agencies of the two countries. The Pakistani side was led by the Adviser to Prime Minister Abdul Razak Dawood, and the Uzbek side by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov.

The parties discussed the current issues of bilateral cooperation, the implementation of the previously reached agreements, as well as the prospects for enhancing partnership in investment, trade, industrial cooperation, transport, education, healthcare and culture.

The main attention at the meeting was paid to the practical aspects of the implementation of the project for the construction of Mazar-i-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar railway, which is of strategic importance for further strengthening bilateral economic ties and ensuring sustainable development of Central Asia.

Following the talks, an agreement was reached on accelerating the negotiation process on preparation for signing the Preferential Trade Agreement and the Mutual Recognition Agreement for Conformity Assessment between the standardization and quality control bodies of both countries.

The parties also agreed to develop a roadmap for further activities of the Working Group, which provides for specific mechanisms for practical interaction between the relevant ministries and agencies of the two countries.

UzA