‘Pakistan and Uzbekistan have considerable potential to expand B2B linkages’

President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Mohammad Zikria Akbar Zia, emphasized the strong potential for Pakistan and Uzbekistan to enhance their business-to-business (B2B) relationships. He stated that regular exchanges of business delegations could transform existing goodwill into tangible trade and investment opportunities.

During a recent visit to the ICCI, a delegation from the International Business Women’s Association (IBWA) Uzbekistan, led by Chairwoman Gulnora Makhmudova, discussed promoting women-led entrepreneurship and trade between the two nations. The ICCI assured its full support for facilitating B2B meetings between women entrepreneurs from both countries.

Zikria Akbar Zia stressed that women's economic empowerment is crucial for achieving sustainable economic growth, prosperity, and inclusive development. Makhmudova highlighted the Uzbek government's efforts to promote women's economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, noting that women comprise 40 percent of the total entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan and benefit from various supportive programs.

Pakistani representatives, including ICCI Senior Vice President Mohammad Ashfaq Hussain Chatha and Vice President Mohammad Waqas Khan, called for sustained institutional cooperation to strengthen business ties. Executive Members Nageena Khaleeque, Abrarul Haq, and ICCI member Prof Dr Johria Azhar proposed forming a joint working group to identify business opportunities and facilitate practical linkages.

Khalid Taimour Akram, advisor to Habib Rafiq Group, briefed the participants on the group's initiatives and assured full cooperation in fostering closer ties between Pakistani and Uzbek women entrepreneurs.