FAISALABAD: Kazakhstan Ambassador to Pakistan Yerzhan Kistafin on Thursday said that the business community must seize every opportunity to significantly enhance bilateral trade between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.
Addressing a select gathering at the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI), Yerzhan Kistafin highlighted the strong and cordial relations between the two countries, urging the business community to translate these ties into tangible economic benefits.
Referring to business-to-business (B2B) contacts as “brother-to-brother relations,” Kistafin underscored the importance of leveraging such connections to fully tap into the untapped business potential between the two nations.
He mentioned that three cities in Pakistan had already been declared sister cities of Kazakhstan, with Shymkent recently declared as the sister city of Faisalabad due to their shared interests in the textile sector. He encouraged textile exporters to invest in Shymkent to access markets in five Eurasian countries, including Russia and Belarus.
Kistafin informed the gathering about the establishment of an economic zone in Shymkent, renowned for its mass production of finished textile products. He highlighted the incentives offered to industrialists investing in the economic zone, including exemptions from land, property, and corporation tax until 2030. He also mentioned the potential for establishing various other industries in the zone, such as recycling of waste paper, food, pharmaceuticals, aluminum, and light engineering.
Responding to inquiries, Kistafin assured that biometric facilities for visa applicants would soon be available at the Lahore consulate. He also discussed plans to restore rail links between Pakistan and Kazakhstan, urging the business community to participate in expos in Kazakhstan to explore business opportunities and establish direct links with counterparts.
FCCI President Dr. Khurram Tariq welcomed the ambassador and highlighted the significance of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed to declare Faisalabad and Shymkent as sister cities. He viewed it as the first step towards significantly boosting bilateral trade between the two countries.
Rao Khalid Mahmood Khan, honorary Consul General of Kazakhstan in Lahore, spoke about the opportunities available in Kazakhstan and encouraged Pakistani industrialists to consider relocating their units to Shymkent to leverage the abundance of resources and export opportunities.
Various FCCI members participated in the question-and-answer session, where they discussed potential collaborations and opportunities for business growth.
Senior Vice President Dr. Sajjad Arshad offered a vote of thanks, and President Dr. Khurram Tariq presented shields to Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin and Rao Khalid Mehmood Khan. In return, the ambassador presented a shield and a traditional coat of his country to President Dr. Khurram Tariq. Finally, Yerzhan Kistafin recorded his impressions in the FCCI Visitor’s Book.
