Written by The Banking Post
Pakistan has expressed keen interest in expanding bilateral trade and investment with Bangladesh, highlighting opportunities across textiles, jewellery, and other export-driven sectors.
On Wednesday, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan paid a courtesy visit to the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI), where he held an interactive discussion with DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed and senior business leaders.
DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed noted the cultural, culinary, and lifestyle similarities between the two nations, stressing that Pakistan’s textiles and jewellery enjoy strong demand in Bangladesh. He reiterated that Bangladesh’s private sector has long urged the government to pursue Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with potential partners, and that an FTA with Pakistan could unlock significant opportunities. He also underlined the need for direct passenger and cargo flights to boost business connectivity.
Minister Jam Kamal Khan echoed the shared dependence of both countries on the apparel and textile sector but emphasized the importance of diversifying exports. He pointed out the rising global appetite for reused clothing in Europe, North America, and Canada, calling it a lucrative market that Bangladeshi and Pakistani entrepreneurs could jointly explore.
Looking outward, he proposed collaboration to expand exports to Africa, East Africa, and Central Asia, regions that remain underutilized by both economies. He further suggested that Bangladesh could explore imports of Pakistani cement, sugar, footwear, and leather products, given Pakistan’s competitive manufacturing in these industries.
The Minister also stressed the role of technology adoption and value addition in agriculture to capture shares in the billion-dollar global agri-business market. To deepen bilateral engagement, he announced that a ‘Single Country Exhibition’ of Pakistani products will soon be hosted in Dhaka, aimed at fostering stronger links between the two private sectors.
The meeting was attended by Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider, DCCI Senior Vice President Razeev H Chowdhury, Vice President Md. Salem Sulaiman, members of the board of directors, and senior officials of the Pakistan High Commission.
