Islamabad (TDI): A new chapter in the 60 years of strong diplomatic and economic partnership between the European Union and Pakistan would begin on May 14, when EU-Pakistan Business Forum would hold its first ever session in Islamabad. The session is to be organized in collaboration with Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).
The first high-level EU-Pakistan Business Forum (EU-PKBF) has been designed to unlock business investment and trade between Pakistan and the European Union, according to the EU press office, and the platform would also mark the official launch of the EU-Pakistan Business Network.
Jamil Qureshi, the Federal Secretary of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) Division, announced on his social media account X, “The European Union, in collaboration with the SIFC, is organizing the 1st EU-Pakistan High-Level Business Forum on May 14–15, in Islamabad, a future yearly event, insha’Allah. 200+ High-end European companies will join the focused B2B sessions in the Forum.”
The European Union, in collaboration with the SIFC, is organising the 1st EU-Pakistan High-Level Business Forum on May 14–15, in Islamabad, a future yearly event, insha’Allah. 200+ High-end European companies will join the focussed B2B sessions in the Forum.#RisingPakistan#SIFC pic.twitter.com/nJyc7l0cKr
— Jamil Qureshi (@jameelaq) April 30, 2025
In recent years, Pakistan has become the largest beneficiary of the EU’s GSP+ trade scheme. Since the launch of the trade scheme in 2014, Pakistani business community has increased their exports to the EU market by 108%.
The European Union, in 2023, unanimously voted to extend GSP+ status to Pakistan and some other developing economies, until 2027.
Talking about the initiative, The European Union stated, “The Forum will also mark the official launch of the EU-Pakistan Business Network, a dynamic initiative aimed at bringing together all EU businesses active in Pakistan allowing them to channel their collective voice.”
The forum on May 14, would initiate business-to-government sessions with high-level government officials as well as offering business-to-business (B2B) opportunities to Pakistani and European business community.
Read More: Pakistan, EU to Hold First-Ever Business Forum in May
The EU-Pakistan Business Forum 2025 has extended invitation to several high-level state representatives and policymakers. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s ministers of finance and commerce would also participate in the event and would engage with the EU and Pakistani business leaders and investors.
The goal of this forum is to create a “common space to exchange on opportunities and challenges of doing business in Pakistan, including in the sectors of textiles and apparel, agriculture and agri-business, pharmaceuticals and health care equipment, and renewable energy/connectivity.”
On March 25, a joint statement was released by the government of Pakistan and the EU delegation, which stated, “With a rapidly growing market of more than 240 million people, competitive labor costs, strategic geographical access to Central and South Asia and a preferential trade access to the EU, Pakistan offers best business opportunities.”
Javaria Khalid is a Web Contributor at The Diplomatic Insight Magazine. She specializes in covering geopolitical developments, international relations, diplomatic, and socio-economic developments in Europe and Pakistan.
