Pakistan and Uzbekistan have great potential for developing mutual trade
According to the Associated Press of Pakistan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Uzbekistan to Pakistan Alisher Tukhtayev noted that there is great potential for increasing trade and investment between the two countries through the creation of joint ventures, in particular for the development of the textile industry.
During his visit to the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), Uzbekistan’s Ambassador invited representatives of the country’s textile companies to study the demand for high-quality products in Uzbekistan. He noted that Uzbekistan’s cheap energy and rich cotton reserves create attractive opportunities for Pakistani investors to develop trade and investment in the Uzbekistan market.
The Ambassador recalled that the two countries have signed several memoranda of understanding and agreements aimed at facilitating market access. Thanks to direct flights, the flight time was reduced by 90 minutes. Negotiations on a trilateral transit trade agreement involving Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan have entered a crucial phase. After reaching an agreement, trade flows will accelerate even more. Uzbekistan’s shopping malls have been opened in Karachi and Lahore. The next such center will be opened in Islamabad.
As A. Tukhtayev noted, Pakistan and Uzbekistan are “fraternal countries, not competitors”, so it is necessary to share resources, knowledge, and experience for mutual benefit. He invited the APTMA delegation to visit Uzbekistan, take part in exhibitions and conferences, and added that other trade delegations will visit this fraternal country in the coming months.
APTMA Chairman Kamran Arshad highlighted several existing problems in mutual trade, including the lack of official banking channels, delays in signing the free trade agreement, language barriers in labeling, issues with the Afghan transit route, and the slow construction pace of the Trans-Afghan Railway. He emphasized the importance of strengthening banking relations, concluding a free trade agreement as soon as possible, and establishing a regular exchange of trade delegations to realize the existing potential fully.
Another participant of the meeting, Asad Shafi, informed the delegation about the possibilities of Pakistan’s textile industry, noting that, despite centuries-old ties, the current volume of bilateral trade is only $125 million. He emphasized that his country aims to boost textile exports to $50 billion under the Sewing Revolution project and urged Uzbekistan to cooperate actively in this endeavor.
Muharrama Pirmatova, UzA
Popular Malaysian Artist Presents New Album Filmed in Uzbekistan in Kuala Lumpur
A presentation of the new music album “Salawat. The Beloved” by Hafiz Hamidun, a popular Malaysian singer, composer, and producer whose work enjoys a wide following among Muslim audiences across Southeast Asia, was held in Kuala Lumpur. The album was filmed in Uzbekistan, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.
In August this year, Hafiz Hamidun and his creative team visited Uzbekistan, where they filmed a series of music videos in Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara Region. The filming took place at sites showcasing the country’s rich historical, cultural, and tourism heritage.
Representatives of leading Malaysian electronic and print media outlets attended the album’s premiere. Around 100 posts and media reports about the presentation of the project filmed in Uzbekistan were subsequently published on social media platforms.
The event also featured a photo exhibition by Hafiz Hamidun dedicated to Uzbekistan’s rich Islamic, historical, and cultural heritage.
According to the artist, the new album attracted the attention of more than 1.4 million viewers within a short period. This figure highlights the potential of modern media and creative projects to promote Uzbekistan’s cultural and tourism assets among audiences across Southeast Asia.
The project was implemented with the support of the Embassy of Uzbekistan and the Tourism Committee. Its objective was to raise awareness among Southeast Asian audiences of Uzbekistan’s reforms in the religious and educational spheres, as well as the country’s modern potential for pilgrimage tourism.
Hafiz Hamidun’s project represents not only an example of cooperation in music and the arts, but also a notable instrument of Uzbekistan’s cultural and tourism diplomacy in its relations with Malaysia and the ASEAN countries.