Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan’s Commerce Minister, Jam Kamal Khan, held a meeting with the ambassador of European Union, Raimundas Karoblis, to advance economic cooperation in the upcoming Pakistan–EU Business Forum.
Scheduled for April 28–29 in Islamabad, the forum is being positioned as a pivotal platform to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties.
Officials from both sides highlighted that the event is expected to attract a wide spectrum of participants, including policymakers, business leaders, and institutional stakeholders from Pakistan and across EU member states.
A central feature of the forum will be extensive business-to-business (B2B) engagements, with hundreds of meetings planned between Pakistani and European companies.
These interactions aim to facilitate direct partnerships, boost investment flows, and unlock new avenues of collaboration in key sectors such as textiles, manufacturing, and services.
Speaking during the meeting, the commerce minister described the forum as a timely opportunity for Pakistan to project a strong, business-friendly image on the global stage.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the event’s success through comprehensive facilitation measures for international participants and by expanding opportunities for meaningful B2B engagement.
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Both sides also explored the possibility of institutionalizing such forums as regular engagements, creating a sustained platform for ongoing dialogue between Pakistani and European businesses.
The need to maintain momentum between events through structured follow-up mechanisms was underscored as critical to long-term success.
A key point of discussion was the European Union’s GSP Plus scheme, which continues to play a crucial role in supporting Pakistan’s exports to European markets.
European representatives acknowledged Pakistan’s progress under the framework, noting its positive impact, particularly on the textile sector.
The minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to meeting all GSP Plus requirements, calling the scheme a cornerstone of bilateral trade relations.
The meetinf also covered Pakistan’s ongoing tariff rationalization efforts aimed at easing imports of raw materials and intermediate goods.
European stakeholders welcomed these reforms, highlighting their importance in strengthening industrial supply chains and export performance.
They also discussed expanding regional cooperation, including potential trilateral investment initiatives involving Gulf partners.
