Uzbek trade delegation meets APTMA members

LAHORE: All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) & Uzbekistan Trade Delegation have reached an understanding to impressively upsurge bilateral trade from the present level of USD114 million to much higher figure.

This understanding was reached in a meeting of Uzbek trade delegation with members and office bearers of APTMA, held at APTMA, Lahore on January 23, 2026. Uzbekistan delegation consisted of Zikrillayev Rukhullo, Deputy Director, and Agency for the Development of Light Industry, Bakhtiyarov Shakhzod, Chief Specialist, Najeeb Mushtaq Vohra, Honorary Consul of Uzbekistan, Ms Abdullayeva Dilorom Ubaydullaevna, Representative of CCI Uzbekistan and other prominent business leaders from Uzbekistan.

On their arrival at APTMA, they were received by Kamran Arshad, Chairman APTMA, Asad Shafi, Chairman North, Mohammad Qasim, Treasurer North, Danish Aslam, and senior executives of APTMA, leading textile manufacturers and exporters and Raza Baqir, Secretary General.

Uzbekistan delegation informed APTMA about a series of concrete steps being undertaken by the governments of Uzbekistan and Pakistan in coordination with trade associations of both the countries to upsurge bilateral trade and avail benefits from mutual potential and strengths of both the countries.

He added that this was a part of visits of Uzbek business persons to Pakistan and more delegations are expected in the coming months. He invited APTMA delegation to visit Uzbekistan and urged them to participate in the expo and exhibitions held in Uzbekistan from time to time.

Head of Uzbekistan delegation said that both Pakistan and Uzbekistan share a long history and they are brothers and not competitors or rivals. They should share their resources, knowledge and wisdom for common benefits.

He informed that Uzbekistan Trade Centers have been opened at Karachi and Lahore and urged Pakistani textile manufacturers to benefit from the services being extended by these centers.

The visiting delegation said the two countries have already signed numerous agreements for ease in flow of trade and an agreement is being signed between State Bank of Pakistan and Uzbek Bank for cooperation in banking.

He stated that direct flights have been started from Pakistan to Tashkent which takes only two hours to reach destination and more flights are being operationalized to facilitate travel between both the countries.

Uzbek delegation proposed to sign an agreement of cooperation between APTMA and Uzbek Textile Association.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman APTMA Kamran Arshad highlighted the problems in bilateral trade with Uzbekistan, saying that the issues confronting bilateral trade included logistic issues, obtaining and using Letters of Credit (LC) in trade with Uzbekistan, language barriers in labelling the goods in Uzbek or Russian languages, difficulties in land route due to security situation in Afghanistan, delay in signing of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and non-completion of trans Afghan railway line.

Kamran highlighted incentive for setting up of industries in Pakistan. He said that Pakistan was strategically located with close proximity to all foreign markets via sea, air or land routes. He added that the goods produced in Pakistan have duty free access to European Union, China and Malaysia and preferential tariff for exports to Uzbekistan, Gulf and many other countries.

He referred to a series of duties and tax exemptions for setting up of industries in Special Economic Zones (SEZ), Sole Enterprise Zone, Gawadar Free Trade Zone and on import of plant, machinery and raw materials for use in exportable goods.

Asad Shafi, Chairman North said that said there is a need for strengthening of banking channels between Pakistan & Uzbekistan, as flow of trade is hampered in absence of formal banking channel. He urged for an early signing of PTA, utilization of OIC, ECO, and Shanghai Trade Cooperation platforms for expansion of bilateral trade, joint investment in the textile industry and establishment of joint ventures, frequent exchange of trade delegations, synergies in bilateral trade expansion, mutual capacity building in textile sectors, and bilateral exchange of business delegations to identify trade and investment options as a way forward to solidify trade and investment relations between Pakistan and Uzbekistan, he added.

Raza Baqir extended vote of thanks to the visiting Uzbek delegation at the end of the meeting and hoped that frequency of such visits will facilitate expansion of bilateral trade and joint ventures in all sectors of economy especially textiles.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026