Asia pacific foregin trade bridge

TURKEY-ASIA PACIFIC FOREIGN TRADE BRIDGE II TO BOOST TRADE WITH ASIA – PACIFIC REGION – MUHAMMAD IJAZ ABBASI

H.E.MR.ABDULLAH GUL, PRESIDENT OF TURKEY CONVEYS MESSAGE OF BEST WISHES TO PRESIDENT AND PM OF PAKISTAN

Islamabad (NNA) Turkey – Asia Pacific Foreign Trade Bridge II at Istanbul was a spectacular event to boost partnerships and business relationships between Turkey and the Asia Pacific region, this was stated by Muhammad Ijaz Abbasi, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry on returning from Turkey after attending the event. The event was organized by the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) and supported by Turkey's Foreign Trade Undersecretariat and Ministry of Foreign Affairs that attracted a record number of participants from Asia-Pacific countries as well as Turkish businessmen.

President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry representing Pakistan and delivering a speech at the inaugural session of the of Turkey-Asia Pacific Foreign Trade Bridge II thanked President of Turkey and TUSKON for inviting him for this very important networking event. He said that Pakistan and Turkey have close trade and economic relations, and organization of such event help in further strengthening the trade and economic ties between the two countries. President further said that Pakistan is a big country of 160 million people and offers great business opportunities to foreign investors. He informed the participants of the event that already many foreign investors are reaping phenomenal returns on their investment in telecommunication, energy, construction and banking sectors and invited businessmen of Asia Pacific countries to take advantage of Pakistan's attractive investment potential by bringing in their capital and technology in the country.

Muhammad Ijaz Abbasi, along with group of Ministers of Asia Pacific countries, also called on the Turkish President H.E. Abdullah Gull at Ankara on his special invitation and thanked him for organizing such a spectacular and successful gathering of distinguished businessmen and diplomats of Asia Pacific region by his country to exchange views to enhance mutual trade relations. President of ICCI said that H.E.Mr. Abdullah Gull, President of Turkey also conveyed his message of good wishes to the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan and said that Turkey feels proud on his excellent and historical relations with Pakistan. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Muhammad Ijaz Abbasi also invited President of Turkey to visit Pakistan President. Ijaz Abassi said that Pakistan and Turkey enjoy historical, time tested and brotherly close relations and thanked the Turkish President for his country's help given to Pakistan during earthquake tragedy and in education sector. President ICCI informed that 60 businessmen from Pakistan participated in the event and said that such platforms help improve trade ties among the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, which have an average annual growth rate of 7 percent. President ICCI said that 465 businessmen from 22 countries of the Asia Pacific region along with 1200 businessmen from Turkey participated in the event that provided an excellent occasion to explore potential business opportunities in Turkey and Asia Pacific region to seek joint business projects.

He said that the axis of the world economy is now shifting from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and this provides great opportunity to countries of Asia Pacific region including Pakistan to increase their trade prospects by exploring further business potential in Asia Pacific region so that they could take advantage out of this shift if they work hard.

President said that the event provided an excellent opportunity to sign business agreements with African, Eurasian and Asia-Pacific countries and it has greatly helped improve diplomatic and cultural relations with a number of countries in these regions. He further said that Turkey-Asia Pacific Foreign Trade Bridge II forum will mark the growing business relations between Asia-Pacific countries and Turkey.