ANKARA, 8 September 2011: Senator Syeda Sughra Imam in her meeting with Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Mr. Bulent Arinç at Ankara on Wednesday evening invited more Turkish investment in renewable energy and other productive sectors of economy. Senator Sughra Imam, Chairperson of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) Working Group on Institution Capacity Building is leading a Pakistani delegation to FoDP workshop on institutional capacity building hosted by Turkey at Ankara on 8-9 September.
While terming the historical bilateral relations between Pakistan and Turkey as exemplary, both sides agreed on the need to further strengthen economic cooperation and enhance parliamentary and cultural exchange programmes Senator Imam conveyed the greetings of Pakistani leadership to the Turkish leadership for Turkey’s active participation in FoDP process and hosting the workshop which she hoped will set the future agenda of substantive collaboration between institutions in Pakistan and FoDP countries and organizations in general and Turkey in particular. Referring to increasing Turkish investment in Pakistan, Ms Sughra Imam said M/s Zorlu of Turkey is the first foreign investor to start wind-farm in the renewable energy sector. She said Pakistan would welcome more participation from Turkey and FoDP countries in the renewable energy as well as hydro electricity sector. She appreciated Turkey for taking keen interest in the agriculture and construction sectors. She lauded Turkey for establishing vocational training institution for agriculture through Turkish Cooperation & Development Agency (TIKA).
Mr. Bulent Arinç said that Turkey will encourage Turkish Universities to open campuses in Pakistan and enter into partnership and linkage programmes with Pakistani universities. Pakistan is important country for Turkey and the new projects in connectivity such as Gul Train from Islamabad to Istanbul, currency swap arrangements, and increasing frequency of flights between the two countries will result into enhanced economic activities, the Turkish Deputy Premier added.