Ukrainian companies keen to invest in CPEC projects: Ambassador
Ambassador of Ukraine to Pakistan Volodymyr Lakomov has said that a number of renowned Ukrainian companies are keen to invest in projects under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This investment would be a beginning to further strengthen long term bilateral cooperation between the two countries, Volodymyr Lakomov said while talking to APP.
He said that Pakistan being a developing country should take maximum benefit from the CPEC and the Ukrainian companies would also be ready for investment in its various projects. The CPEC, he said, would be a guarantee for economic stability in the region in the times to come.
When asked about cooperation between the two countries in the field of trade and investment, he said that Pakistan and Ukraine were alreday working to finalise a drat "Mutual Encouragement Investment Protection" agreement for enhancing investment opportunities. This agreement would encourage investors for safe investment, besides help avoid double taxation between the two countries, the envoy said.
Pakistani businessmen, he said, could take benefit from Ukraine through their investment the latter had Free Trade Agreement with European countries. The ambassador appreciated the role of Pakistani government and the armed forces in the war against terrorism, which he said, was acknowledged by the entire world. They recognised the sacrifices of Pakistani nation as well as the armed forces, he added.
Regarding bilateral cooperation in the education sector, he said that more than 1,000 Pakistani students were studying in various Ukrainian universities, especially in the faculties/departments of medical, engineering, textile, agriculture and metallurgy. Ukraine had over 100 universities, he added.
He urged the world community to support Ukrainian people who were facing aggression by the Russian forces. More than 9,000 citizens, including women and children, had been killed and about 30,000 injured by by the Russian forces in occupied areas while over 100,000 were forced to leave their houses and take refuge in other parts of the country. The Ukrainian nation, he said, wanted elections in areas under the control of Russian forces but the same could only be possible in a free and fair atmosphere after the withdrawal of occupational forces. "Ukrainian companies are also ready to invest in the multi-billion dollars Turkmenistan- AfghanistanPakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project as they have capacity to provide pipes for the project," he mentioned.
The envoy said that Ukraine wanted to import rice, oranges, mangoes, textile, footwear and surgical items from Pakistan and export fertilizer, agricultural machinery, hydro turbines, energy equipments including generators pips, chemicals, sunflower and canola oil etc. Responding to a question about tourists of Pakistan to Ukraine, the ambassador said that the Ukrainian government would welcome to receive Pakistani tourists and the embassy would be ready to extend facilities in this regard.