‘Pakistan and Uzbekistan have considerable potential to expand B2B linkages’

Business Recorder reported that Pakistan and Uzbekistan have considerable room to widen business-to-business ties, and that regular business delegation visits could turn existing goodwill into trade and investment. The remarks came from ICCI President Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia, who spoke with a delegation from the International Business Women's Association Uzbekistan led by Chairwoman Gulnora Makhmudova during a Thursday visit to the chamber in Islamabad.

The two sides also talked about boosting entrepreneurship led by women, along with trade and investment. Zia said women's economic empowerment is essential for sustainable growth and inclusive development. Makhmudova said women make up 40 percent of entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan, and she invited Pakistani women to a B2B Women Conference in Tashkent in April next year.

Senior Vice President Mohammad Ashfaq Hussain Chatha and Vice President Mohammad Waqas Khan called for lasting institutional ties between the two nations. Executive members Nageena Khaleeque, Abrarul Haq and Prof Dr Johria Azhar proposed a joint working group to keep in regular contact and identify business opportunities. Khalid Taimour Akram, an adviser to the Habib Rafiq Group chairman, said structured B2B engagement and delegation exchanges could lead to joint ventures across several sectors.