ISLAMABAD: Ukrainian Ambassador to Pakistan Volodymyr Lakomov Sunday said that Pakistan and Ukraine could easily boost their existing trade volume to new heights by exploring non-traditional avenues.
The envoy, in an exclusive talk with APP, said the current trade volume between the two countries was $500 million and steps were in hand to enhance the same.
Ukraine was in the process of signing about a dozen agreements with Pakistan thereby providing a level playing field to the investors from both the sides, besides enhancing science and technologies, education, cultural and trade relations, he added.
He said Pakistani businessmen could explore Ukrainian market for their products like textile, handicraft, leather goods, surgical instruments, sport goods and fruits, especially mango and dates.
Similarly, Ukraine could export metallurgy items, wheat, cargo and aviation and aerospace technologies, besides military hardware, he added.
He said Pakistan had a lot of potential to excel in the aviation sector and Ukraine having over six decades experience of manufacturing passenger and cargo aircraft could help it in that regard. Ukraine’s “Antonov” company had so far developed over 100 types of aircraft, including one of the biggest cargo carriers, besides a fire-extinguisher, he added.
For enhancing bilateral trade the two countries, he said,had recently inked an agreement to do away double taxation. The two countries could sign memorandums of understandings for cooperation in fields like investment, aviation, education, maritime merchant ships, law enforcement field, agriculture and food security, science & technologies, and cultural exchanges.
He appreciated that the democratic system had deepening its roots in Pakistan after passing through a series of tests and trials.
Referring to a recent meeting of Ukrainian Foreign Minister with Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, he said both the leaders discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation.
Expressing his appreciation for the quality and taste of Pakistani fruits, he said, “Kinnow, Mango and dates of this country are juicy and tasteful.”
Whenever he visited Kiev – the capital of Ukraine – he took along these gifts of the nature (kinow or mango and dates) for his family and friends, he added.
He said though the long distance between the two countries was a handicap for import and export of such perishable fruits, but the Ukrainians were fond of the quality and taste of fruits produced in Pakistan.
Appreciating the proposal for arranging a programe of Ukrainian singer ‘Jamala’, the winner of Eurovision song competition, in Pakistan on its founding day on August 14, the ambassador said it would a step forward to enhance bilateral cultural ties.
