Pakistan and Turkey have agreed to boost their bilateral trade volume to $5 billion and discussed strategies to enhance trade and investment in special economic zones. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made this commitment during a joint press conference following their meeting in Istanbul.
President Erdogan emphasized the importance of regional support for Middle East peace efforts, cautioning against Israel's interference in the US-Iran peace deal. He stressed the need for solutions that involve regional collaboration, expressing concerns over Israel's actions potentially destabilizing the region.
Erdogan outlined Turkey's intent to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan in various sectors such as energy, transport, critical minerals, information technology, and defense, with a focus on achieving the $5 billion trade target. Prime Minister Sharif commended Turkey's progress under President Erdogan's leadership and highlighted the significance of the Pakistan-Turkey friendship.
During discussions with Turkish businessmen and President Erdogan, Sharif emphasized the goal of boosting investment in special economic zones to reach the $5 billion trade target. He underscored the countries' united stance on global and regional issues, including support for Turkey's position on the Cyprus matter.
Sharif thanked Turkey for its unwavering support on the Kashmir issue and highlighted the historical solidarity between the two nations, citing instances where Turkey aided Pakistan during times of need, such as natural disasters. He praised Turkey's contributions to Pakistan's development through initiatives like establishing hospitals and schools in disaster-affected areas.
President Erdogan extended condolences for the recent bus accident in Balochistan and reiterated Turkey's commitment to supporting efforts to reduce regional tensions through diplomatic means. He condemned Israel's provocations and reiterated Turkey's solidarity with Pakistan in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
Both leaders reaffirmed their target of increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion and discussed plans to expand trade and investment cooperation, particularly focusing on special economic zones and preferential trade agreements. Erdogan highlighted the importance of collaboration in defense industries and expressed Turkey's interest in deepening cooperation with Pakistan in various sectors, including energy, transportation, critical minerals, and information technology.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Sharif reaffirmed the government's dedication to fostering an investment-friendly environment, particularly in high-value sectors like information and communication technologies. He discussed plans to establish a Pakistan-Turkey Digital Corridor to enhance regional digital connectivity and invited Turkcell to explore partnerships in areas such as 5G deployment, network optimization, and digital skills development.
Turkcell's CEO, Ali Taha Koc, commended Pakistan's digital transformation agenda and expressed the company's eagerness to collaborate in telecommunications, digital infrastructure, and emerging technologies. He emphasized Turkcell's commitment to working with Pakistani stakeholders to develop mutually beneficial partnerships that align with the economic and technological goals of both countries.
