The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) took a significant step to strengthen economic links with Central Asia by hosting a high-level delegation from Uzbekistan this Wednesday. The event aimed to unlock new opportunities for bilateral trade, investment, and industrial synergy.
High-Level Talks for Mutual Growth
The meeting was chaired by LCCI President Faheemur Rehman Saigol, who formally welcomed the 16-member group led by Minhajiddin Raufov. In his opening remarks, Saigol emphasized the chamber's vast network, representing over 48,000 members across Pakistan's core economic sectors. He underscored the critical role of such senior-level exchanges in paving the way for industrial partnerships, sharing of expertise, and collaborative business projects.
Saigol pointed to the deep-rooted historic connections between Pakistan and Uzbekistan, noting that their complementary economic strengths present a solid foundation for mutual prosperity. The discussions focused on converting these strengths into concrete, profitable ventures.
Uzbekistan Eyes Pakistani Expertise in Key Sectors
Leading the Uzbek delegation, Minhajiddin Raufov specifically acknowledged Pakistan's advanced proficiency in textiles, garments, and leather industries. He expressed a keen interest in leveraging this Pakistani experience and technical know-how to bolster Uzbekistan's own industrial production capabilities.
The delegation revealed that prior to the Lahore meeting, Uzbek working groups had already conducted visits to major Pakistani industrial hubs, including Faisalabad. These visits helped identify specific, actionable areas for potential investment and collaboration.
Roadmap for Future Collaboration
A key outcome of the dialogue was the mutual emphasis on establishing joint industrial and textile units in Lahore. The Uzbek officials stressed this as a priority to materialize the discussed opportunities. The meeting served as a platform to move from identification to implementation, setting the stage for future business-to-business engagements and government-level support to facilitate these partnerships.
The engagement at the LCCI marks a proactive move to enhance Pakistan's trade footprint in Central Asia, with the textile sector poised to be at the forefront of this emerging economic corridor.
