News Desk
Rawalpindi: H.E Irfan Neziroğlu, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Pakistan, visited the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), where he received a warm welcome from RCCI President Nosherwan Khalil Khan and Patron-in-Chief Sohail Altaf.
The Ambassador was accompanied by Mr. Enes Malik Çetin, Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye. Senior Vice President Waseem Aslam, Vice President Ikram Abbasi, and RCCI Executive Committee members were also present.
During the interactive meeting, Ambassador Irfan Neziroğlu congratulated the newly elected RCCI leadership and extended his best wishes for a successful tenure. He emphasized the need for Pakistan and Türkiye to capitalize on the immense untapped potential in bilateral trade and investment, stating that strong political, cultural, and historical bonds between the two brotherly nations must translate into deeper economic cooperation.
The Ambassador noted that bilateral trade remains below its potential despite the longstanding cordial relations between the two countries. He urged Pakistani businessmen to explore opportunities in food, tourism, mining, education, IT, pharmaceuticals, and other sectors, particularly through joint ventures and enhanced private-sector collaboration.
He stressed the importance of greater interaction between chambers of commerce, investors, and business communities of both countries to unlock new avenues of economic growth. He also invited Pakistani businessmen to participate in the Halal Expo in Istanbul from November 25–28, along with other trade fairs in Türkiye.
In his welcome remarks, RCCI President Nosherwan Khalil Khan briefed the Ambassador on the Chamber’s activities, initiatives, and future programs. He assured that RCCI would work closely with the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad to facilitate trade delegations, promote business-to-business engagement, and share sector-specific information for potential joint ventures.
Patron-in-Chief Sohail Altaf recalled hosting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his tenure as Mayor of Istanbul in 1998. He emphasized the need to transform the longstanding cordial relations between Pakistan and Türkiye into stronger business and economic partnerships.
Sohail Altaf also proposed exploring a trilateral economic pact between Pakistan, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia, similar to their defence cooperation framework, along with a common visa facility, preferential trade agreements, and enhanced business mobility to facilitate trade and investment.
The Ambassador assured his full support for Pakistani businesspersons and the private sector.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of Pakistan and Türkiye to expand bilateral trade, investment, and business cooperation for mutual prosperity.
