KARACHI, December 19, 2024: H.E. Cemal Sangu, the Consul General of Türkiye, commended the Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP) for its innovative approach to enhancing trade relations between Türkiye and Pakistan. During a meeting with a delegation from the EFP at the Consulate General, Mr. Sangu emphasized the importance of practical actions rather than just discussions to elevate bilateral trade and investment.
He remarked, “Formidable efforts must be made by the private sectors of Türkiye and Pakistan to boost bilateral trade. Now is the time for pragmatic action.” He further revealed that the EFP’s Strategy Roadmap, designed to rapidly increase trade from $1 billion to $5 billion, would be officially launched in January at the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad, with a follow-up ceremony for the private sectors of both countries in Karachi. Additionally, Mr. Sangu proposed organizing a series of focused trade delegations starting from April, encouraging both nations’ private sectors to work together closely to achieve these goals.
The Strategy Roadmap, which had been previously presented and approved by Mr. Sangu, was introduced by Maria Shabbir, Strategy and Communications Advisor at EFP-EC. She explained that the roadmap was developed in response to the lack of decisive actions from the business sectors and aimed to accelerate the expansion of trade and mobilize investment opportunities between Türkiye and Pakistan.
Mehmood Arshad, Chairman of EFP-EC, informed that following the initial meeting, he and Syed Hasnain Mazhar, an EFP Board Member, had visited Istanbul, where they held detailed discussions with the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, MUSIAD, and other relevant bodies. This visit culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between EFP and MUSIAD to foster collaboration and cooperation.
Majyd Aziz, Former President of EFP and Senior Board Member, who led the delegation, expressed gratitude to Mr. Sangu for his commitment to strengthening trade ties between the two countries. He also extended an invitation for Mr. Sangu to visit the Musaliha International Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution (MICADR), which was inspired by the Turkish model. The center aims to resolve any issues faced by the private sectors of both nations amicably.
EFP Board Members Humayun Nazir and Syed Nazar Ali emphasized the uniqueness of the EFP-EC’s Strategy Roadmap, noting that no other Pakistani chamber or trade association had undertaken such a comprehensive and actionable plan. They also thanked Mr. Sangu for his personal efforts in facilitating this initiative.
The delegation agreed that Kowsar Ahmed, Economic and Commercial Specialist at the Turkish Consulate, and Maria Shabbir would be the focal points for coordinating the launch of the Roadmap and facilitating upcoming trade delegations.
This collaborative approach marks a significant step toward realizing the goal of enhancing Türkiye-Pakistan trade and investment ties in 2025 and beyond.
