By Commerce Reporter
LAHORE, Pakistan: Pakistan and Türkiye should strengthen bilateral trade through joint ventures, business delegations and investment partnerships, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Ali Hussam Asghar said during a meeting with Turkish Consul General Mehmet Eymen Şimşek in Lahore.
The Turkish consul general visited the LCCI, where business leaders discussed ways to expand economic cooperation, promote tourism and strengthen commercial relations between the two countries.
Ali Hussam Asghar stressed the need to encourage joint ventures and organise business delegations to explore new investment opportunities and increase bilateral trade.
He said stronger business-to-business engagement could help Pakistani and Turkish companies identify potential partners, expand market access and develop mutually beneficial commercial ventures.
Turkish Consul General Mehmet Eymen Şimşek emphasised the importance of incorporating tourism activities into business delegations to promote cultural exchange and strengthen people-to-people relations.
He said greater interaction between business communities and tourism stakeholders could help deepen the longstanding relationship between Pakistan and Türkiye.
Turkish Commercial Attaché Teoman Keles also highlighted the importance of private-sector cooperation, joint ventures and business delegations in creating new opportunities for bilateral trade.
LCCI Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani called for coordinated efforts to achieve the target of increasing bilateral trade to $5 billion.
He emphasised the need to strengthen business partnerships and encourage investment to unlock the commercial potential of both economies.
LCCI Vice President Chaudhry Khadim Hussain said cooperation in tourism and business could further strengthen relations between Pakistan and Türkiye while contributing to Pakistan’s economic growth.
The meeting underscored the importance of closer engagement between the private sectors of both countries, particularly in identifying new areas of investment and facilitating commercial exchanges.
Pakistan and Türkiye have longstanding political and economic ties. Business leaders believe stronger institutional cooperation, increased private-sector engagement and regular trade delegations could help translate these relations into greater commercial activity.
The discussions also highlighted tourism as a potential avenue for expanding cooperation beyond conventional trade, with cultural exchanges expected to support closer connections between the two countries’ business communities.
LCCI Executive Committee members Ali Raza, Syed Yousaf Jamil, Mardan Ali Zaidi, Shahzad Ali Shah, Muhammad Yaseen and Adeel Babar Khan attended the meeting.
Former LCCI Vice President Mian Javed Ahmad, former Executive Committee members Syed Salman Ali and Asif Malik, along with Ch Muhammad Ikram, Asim Makhdoom, Imran Asghar, Saddam Hussain, Kamran Abbas and other business representatives, were also present.
