Govt Vows to Enhance Trade Ties with EU: PM’s Assurance to Delegation

Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has assured the European Union (EU) delegation that the government will continue its efforts to facilitate the growth of trade and investment relations with the EU.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister made this commitment during a meeting with a delegation of senior EU officials and representatives from leading European companies. The meeting, held in Islamabad, included Director (Asia Pacific) of the European Commission’s Directorate General of International Partnerships, Mr. Peteris Ustubs, Ms. Thourya Triki of the EU Investment Bank, and senior executives from top European companies such as Vice President of Adidas Manuel Pauser, Vice President of Andritz Karl Shloegelbauer, and Regional Director of IKEA, Dieter Metkke.

The delegation is in Pakistan to participate in the EU-Pakistan Business Forum. The Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan, Raimundas Karoblis, also attended the meeting. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the delegation and expressed gratitude for their participation in the forum. He highlighted that the European Union is Pakistan’s largest trading partner and the primary destination for its exports.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister praised the EU-Pakistan Business Forum and expressed hope that the event would foster greater trade and investment ties between Pakistan and the EU. He reiterated the government’s commitment to stabilizing the economy, despite challenges such as the recent rise in oil prices due to the Middle East situation.

The Prime Minister mentioned his recent phone conversations with EU Council President Antonio Costa, where they discussed regional security and ways to strengthen Pakistan-EU relations. The EU delegation acknowledged the Prime Minister’s efforts for peace in the region and appreciated the government’s cooperation in hosting the forum.

Delegation members shared their experiences of investing in Pakistan and noted the potential for growth in sectors such as energy, communications, and IT. Over six hundred B2B meetings are anticipated on the sidelines of the EU-Pakistan Business Forum.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar, Advisor to the Prime Minister Dr. Tauqir Shah, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, Haroon Akhtar Khan, and other senior government officials.