Islamabad 20 July: The Ambassador of Pakistan to Spain, Mr. Zahoor Ahmed, accompanied by Mr. Muhammad Ali Asghar, Trade & Investment Counsellor, met with Mr. Andrés Caballero, Secretary General for International Affairs of the Basque Government.
The visit to Basque Country region of Spain formed part of the embassy’s broader effort to diversify regional engagement across Spain and explore bilateral cooperation in trade, technology, education, culture, and labour mobility.
During the meeting with Mr. Andrés Caballero, the discussions focused on forging partnerships in renewable energy, climate policy, vocational skills development, and academic collaboration.
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The Secretary General welcomed the proposals and expressed interest in co-developing training modules and certification schemes tailored for Pakistani workers, aligned with industrial needs in Spain.
In a separate meeting with the Mayor of Bilbao, the Ambassador, joined by Honorary Consul Mr. Rafael Garibi, explored opportunities for cultural programming, university linkages, and city-level cooperation. The Mayor offered the full support of the Bilbao City Council in organizing a cultural festival to celebrate Pakistan, enhancing intercultural exchange in the region.
A productive session was also held at the Bilbao Chamber of Commerce, where potential for trade and investment between Pakistan and the Basque region was discussed. The Pakistani delegation highlighted opportunities in mining, agriculture, renewable energy, and tourism infrastructure, and invited the Chamber to lead a business delegation to Pakistan and explore collaboration via upcoming trade expos.
A major highlight of the visit was the delegation’s interaction with leadership at the Bizkaia Open Future – BAT (Bizkaia Accelerator Tower)—a flagship technology and innovation platform established by the Bizkaia Provincial Government and Telefónica. BAT brings together startups, corporates, and investors to co-develop cutting-edge solutions in areas including urban mobility, energy, and digital health. Pakistani counterparts, including representatives from the National Incubation Center and leading tech universities, participated in the exchange.
It was agreed that BAT will share its innovation challenges with Pakistan’s National Incubation Center, to which Pakistani startups will respond with solutions. Promising engagements may lead to pilot partnerships or joint development projects, particularly in smart city and urban resilience domains. This initiative is expected to open new avenues of technological cooperation between Pakistani innovators and European industry players.
