ISLAMABAD: April 23, 2025 – Pakistan is planning to dispatch a trade delegation to Bangladesh after Eid-ul-Azha, aimed at bolstering economic ties between the two nations.
Both countries are gradually moving toward closer relations, particularly after the fall of Hasina Wajid’s regime in Bangladesh.
A delegation from the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by Secretary General Zulfiqar Butt and accompanied by Women Chamber Chairperson Hina Mansab, met with Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan on Tuesday to discuss regional trade cooperation, with a particular focus on Bangladesh.
Rana Ihsaan Afzaal, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce, and senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce were also present during the meeting.
According to sources, the High Commissioner of Pakistan to Dhaka indicated that the current government in Bangladesh holds significant goodwill toward Pakistan.
Parties across the political spectrum in Bangladesh are positive about strengthening ties with Pakistan, which makes the holding of the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) a priority.
The High Commissioner also shared that he had met with Bangladesh’s Commerce Advisor and Commerce Secretary.
The Bangladesh side is currently working on finalizing the dates and agenda for the upcoming JEC, which is expected to take place in Dhaka.
This follows the visit of Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary to Dhaka last week, where discussions were held at the highest level.
Pakistan, Bangladesh Resuming Direct Trade After Over 50 Years
The High Commissioner further disclosed that Pakistan and Bangladesh are set to resume direct trade after more than 50 years.
The Pakistani Mission has been directed to conduct meetings with relevant Bangladeshi officers to gather data on import industries and identify areas of convergence between the two nations.
This data has been shared with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), which is preparing a comprehensive presentation on Pakistan’s export strategy, focusing on key industries such as food, IT, textile, and others.
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In addition, the Pakistani mission has provided recommendations to Islamabad regarding the reactivation of the Joint Business Council (JBC).
An MoU will be signed between Pakistan’s Trade Development Authority (TDAP) and Bangladesh’s Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) during the JEC.
Ongoing Discussions and Proposals
The Ministry of Science and Technology has shared a draft MoU on standards and testing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) for renewal.
Additionally, Maritime Affairs has updated information regarding the contract of affreightment, which was shared in 2021, and this will be taken up with Bangladesh.
Proposals for a shipping exchange between Pakistan and Bangladesh have also been shared.
On the issue of trade imbalance, SAFTA, and FTA, the Commerce Ministry has provided a concept note and terms of reference (ToRs) for the proposed Joint Working Group (JWG) on Trade & Investment.
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These will be discussed with the Bangladeshi side. The Commerce Ministry has also prepared new proposals and recommendations regarding the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and SAFTA with Bangladesh.
This upcoming trade mission and the ongoing talks underscore the growing interest and commitment from both sides to enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
