ANKARA, 15
October 2015: Pakistan and Turkey have
commenced negotiations on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The inaugural
session of FTA negotiations has concluded in Ankara.
The decision to
have a Pakistan-Turkey Free Trade Agreement was taken by Prime Minister
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Ahmet Davotuglu during the 4th session
of the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSC) in Islamabad in February
2015. The decision envisaged an FTA covering trade in goods, services and
investments.
The Pakistan
delegation was led by Ms. Robina Athar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of
Commerce, and included Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey Sohail Mahmood and
Consul General in Istanbul Dr. Yusuf Junaid. The Turkish side was led by Acting
Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy Mr. Husnu Dilemre and included
senior officials from relevant Turkish departments.
During the
talks, the two sides reiterated their commitment to have a comprehensive FTA
and conclude the negotiations on a fast- track basis. At the conclusion of the
session, the two sides signed the Terms of Reference (TORs) for FTA
negotiations.
The next round
of the negotiations would be held in Islamabad in December 2015.
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