Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov (second left) and Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz (right) watch as Russian Deputy Minister for Culture Leonid Nadirov and his Pakistani counterpart Saleem Gul (second right) exchange documents at the signing ceremony on cooperation in the field of culture, science and education during a ceremony in Islamabad, April 12, 2007.
Photo: AP
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Fradkov Starts Something in Pakistan
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov's two-day official visit to Pakistan began with the signing of basic documents on trade and cooperation. Increased trade and cooperation on regional security should draw the countries closer together. Trade turnover between the countries was only $411 million in 2006. Pakistan supplies Russia with fruit and rise, and Russia ships newsprint, mineral fertilizer and metals to Pakistan.
The Magnitogorsk Metals Combine bid on 40 percent of Pakistan Steel Mills, Pakistan's largest, last year, but did not win the package. Pakistan refused to grant Russia most-favored trading status in a number of fields. There would be no companies to take advantage of that status in any case.
Fradkov brought to Pakistan a proposal on Gazprom's participation in the construction of an Iran-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline, a project that was frozen ten years ago at the stage of feasibility studies due to the Pakistan-India conflict. If it is realized, the pipeline would give Gazprom greater control over the world gas market and prevent Europe from obtaining natural gas from the Southern Pars deposit in competition to it.
Gazprom deputy chairman Alexander Ananenkov has proposed developing a gas distribution system in Pakistan to create an additional market for Iranian gas. That market could consume 44 billion cu. m. by 2010. Gazprom is also prepared to create a joint enterprise to explore for natural gas in Pakistan and to participate in the privatization of the Pakistan State Oil Co.
Mikhail Golubev, president of the Azot agrichemical company, signed a memorandum with the Pakistani company Fauji Foundation on the construction of a new plant with investment of $1 billion. Observers doubt that the Russian side will be able to produce the money, however. Evgeny Pronin, president of KamAZ Foreign Trade Co. signed an agreement on the assembly of KamAZ trucks in Pakistan. That assembly has already begun. Since late last year, 20 trucks have been built, and annual output will reach 4000.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Apr. 13, 2007
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