URUMQI, China: The Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar has said that regional connectivity was extremely important for the member Countries of Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) as this region has lacked regional trade and cooperation in the past compared to other regions in the world.
In a meeting with the President Asian Development Bank (ADB) Takehiko Nakao in China’s northwestern Urumqi City, Ishaq Dar appreciated ADB’s support to the CAREC initiative which was helping to bring the member countries closer through cooperation in areas like trade and transportation.
The minister said that ADB’s support to CAREC Institute was also commendable and hoped that the Institute will play its due role in devising innovative solutions for regional development issues.
Takehiko Nakao hanked the finance minister for his continued encouragement for ADB supported initiatives in Pakistan and assured to further enhance the level of cooperation in the years to come.
The ADP president said that the bank would continue to lend financial and technical support to the CAREC member countries wishing to enhance regional cooperation. He said that there was immense potential for regional connectivity projects in the CAREC region.
Ishaq Dar and Takehiko Nakao also discussed matters related to various on-going ADB funded projects in Pakistan as well those in the pipeline.
