Pakistan, Russia sign barter trade deal in Moscow
The main challenge for Pakistani businessmen remains how to execute trade deals through banking channels
In a major development, Pakistan and Russia entered into a formal barter trade agreement by signing an MoU on Tuesday in Moscow.
Russian company LLC “Astarta Agrotrading” and Pakistani firms Meskay & Femtee Trading Company and National Fruit Processing Factory entered into agreements for the exchange of goods, including chickpeas, rice, mandarins, potatoes, and red lentils.
The development took place in the first-ever Pakistan-Russia Trade and Investment Forum held in Moscow, becoming a landmark event in bilateral trade relations between Pakistan and Russia.
Led by Federal Minister for Privatisation Abdul Aleem Khan, a delegation of 60 Pakistani companies participated in the forum, seeking to strengthen economic ties and explore new business opportunities.
The forum was inaugurated by the Ambassador of Pakistan to Russia, Muhammad Khalid Jamali, and high-level officials from the Russian government, such as the Deputy Minister of Industry and Advisor to the Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation.
Over 60 Pakistani companies, showcasing a diverse range of Pakistani products and services, including textiles, leather, sports goods, pharmaceuticals, food, agricultural products, logistics, and tourism, with a combined export value of over $500 million, participated in the event.
On the Russian side, more than 60 officials from various government departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Economic Development and FSVPS (NPPO), along with representatives from the Russian Export Centre, Federal Chamber, Moscow Chamber, regional chambers and leading associations, attended the forum. Russian banks such as MKB were present to explore potential collaborations.
The main challenge for Pakistani businessmen remains how to execute trade deals through banking channels amid SWIFT sanctions on some Russian companies. India, the UAE, and China are already engaged in trade with Russia in a big way despite the curbs.
Reference Link:- https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1235960-pakistan-russia-sign-barter-trade-deal-in-moscow
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
