Pakistan, Tajikistan eye agri, food-sector cooperation

Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research Rana Tanveer Hussain held a meeting with Tajikistan Ambassador Yusuf Sharifzoda to discuss bilateral trade, agricultural cooperation, economic relations and ways to further strengthen ties between the two countries. During the meeting, the Tajik envoy conveyed an invitation to the federal food minister to attend the upcoming Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) meeting scheduled to be held in September. The minister remarked that Pakistan and Tajikistan enjoy historic, brotherly and cordial relations, rooted in shared religious, cultural and civilisational bonds. He said Tajikistan holds a special position among Pakistan's partners in Central Asia. Rana Tanveer Hussain emphasised the need for further enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation, saying that the existing trade volume between the two countries needed to be improved through greater engagement and by exploring new and alternative avenues. The federal minister highlighted the significant potential for cooperation between Pakistan and Tajikistan in agriculture, food processing, livestock, farm technology and value addition. He said both countries could benefit from each other's expertise and experience to promote cooperation in the agriculture and food sectors. Ambassador Yusuf Sharifzoda said that the decline in bilateral trade needed to be addressed and underlined the importance of exploring alternative options and new avenues to revive and expand trade between the two countries. Both sides agreed to continue efforts to strengthen trade and economic linkages, enhance business-to-business contacts and explore new opportunities for cooperation in agriculture and food-related sectors. The meeting also underscored the importance of regional connectivity, along with expanded trade and economic cooperation, to further deepen the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and Tajikistan.