Pakistan-Kazakhstan Business Forum Drives Growth in Trade and Investment Opportunities

• Extensive B2B engagements were seen and visiting delegates discussed opportunities of cooperation in various sectors.
• Two MoUs were signed in the dairy and glass sectors between Friesland Campina Engro Pakistan Limited and Optima Kazakhstan, and Ghani Global and Euro Glass companies, in presence of dignitaries.

The Pakistan-Kazakhstan Business Forum recently convened, marking a significant step toward strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two nations. During the forum, there was a renewed commitment to expanding collaboration across various sectors, highlighting shared ambitions for economic growth and mutual prosperity.

Kazakh Minister of Transport Marat Karabayev, Federal Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Federal investment Minister Qaiser Sheikh, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce Rana Ehsaan Afzal Khan, Ambassador of Kazakhstan, CEO and Secretary TDAP, Business community representatives attended the forum.

Commerce Minister Jam Kamal, on the occasion, announced that Pakistan and Kazakhstan have finalized a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of e-commerce. This MOU represents a milestone in our efforts to embrace digital transformation and create a modern, inclusive, and innovation driven economic framework.

“E-commerce will be a catalyst in facilitating cross-border trade, empowering SMEs, and opening up new avenues for entrepreneurs, particularly our youth and women,” he said.

Terming connectivity as the cornerstone of regional economic development, Jam Kamal welcomed Kazakhstan’s interest in utilizing Pakistan’s seaports at Karachi and Gwadar for its trade. He said for Kazakhstan, it is the shortest and most effective route to the Arabian Sea and beyond.

He emphasized early finalization of the transit trade agreement between the two countries to provide an institutional framework, which would further benefit and enhance trade numbers through seamless movement of transit cargo of both countries across our seaports, land borders and territories.

Jam Kamal hoped that business to business contacts will help to explore new ventures and forge partnerships across a wider spectrum of sectors like textile, agriculture, food processing, pharmaceutical, leather, ICT, and many more for mutual benefits.

To ensure investor confidence, remove bottlenecks and fast-track projects, Pakistan has a very efficient institutional mechanism through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), he said and invited the Kazakh investors to take advantage of these reforms and expand their businesses.

The Minister of Transport, Republic of Kazakhstan, Marat Karabayev, highlighted main features and potential of Kazakhstan’s trade, industry, export, investment, mineral and other natural resources, and identified oil and gas, construction and material, textile, leather and wool, Agro-chemical, mining, pharmaceutical as potential sector for cooperation.

The Kazakh minister said that his government finances a business that brings technology, expertise and knowledge. “It’s not a matter of the money or it’s not a matter of the realistic investment. If you know the technology, if you have knowledge, we as a government can finance your business in Kazakhstan. That is possible”, he stated.

Referring to vast deposits of  iron, aluminum, copper, lead, lithium, tungsten, molybdenum and tantalum in Kazakhstan he said that Kazakhstan has abundant raw materials and we want to set up industries for manufacturing of finished products.

Secretary Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Sheryar Taj, said that textile, agro and food, engineering and manufacturing, as leading exporting sectors of Pakistan while we also offer land route and port connectivity based transit trade opportunities as well as potential in meat, pharmaceutical and mineral sectors.

Over 150 delegates from all regions of Kazakhstan are participating in this important business forum that brought together key stakeholders from Pakistan and Kazakhstan including the private sector engaging in these trade relationship dialogues.