Jam co-chairs 2nd JTC meeting: Agreement between TPOs of Pakistan, Cambodia signed

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan co-chaired the second meeting of the Pakistan–Cambodia Joint Trade Committee (JTC) with Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce, Cham Nimul. The meeting formally adopted the agenda, reviewed the outcomes of the senior officials’ meeting, signed the Joint Statement, and witnessed the signing of an agreement between the Trade Promotion Organisations (TPOs) of the two countries.

In his opening remarks, Jam Kamal Khan underscored the longstanding bonds of friendship between Pakistan and Cambodia, rooted in mutual respect, shared values, and a common aspiration for economic development. He emphasized that the JTC serves as a structured and effective platform to review progress, address challenges, and identify new avenues for cooperation.

He noted encouraging growth in bilateral trade while highlighting significant untapped potential in market access, investment, and sectoral collaboration.

The Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to advancing discussions toward a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to enhance market access and diversify trade baskets.

The meeting reviewed progress since the first JTC, held in Phnom Penh on January 21, 2025, where both sides had agreed to institutionalize trade dialogue and explore a PTA framework. Building on that foundation, the second JTC focused on enhancing cooperation in priority sectors.

Pakistan highlighted export potential in rice, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and agricultural products, while Cambodia identified opportunities in cassava, cashew nuts, footwear, and rubber products. Both sides agreed to facilitate direct engagement between their business communities to translate these complementarities into concrete trade flows.

On investment, Pakistan’s Board of Investment presented opportunities in energy, IT, tourism, and infrastructure, positioning Pakistan as a gateway to Central Asia. Cambodia outlined the advantages under its new Investment Law and Special Economic Zones (SEZs), proposing the country as a strategic production base for Pakistani enterprises seeking access to ASEAN and RCEP markets.

The two sides agreed to advance cooperation across multiple sectors. These include agriculture, through the establishment of a technical working group; aviation, through the nomination of focal persons toward an Air Services Agreement; double taxation avoidance, through the exchange of focal points; health cooperation, through proposed MoUs; standards and conformity assessment; collaboration in the non-bank financial sector; ICT cooperation in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity; and labour and vocational training exchanges.

The participation of relevant ministries, regulatory authorities, and financial institutions from both countries reflected the comprehensive scope of engagement.

At the conclusion of the session, the Joint Agreed Minutes of the second JTC were adopted, reaffirming both sides’ commitment to practical implementation and sustained institutional coordination.

In her closing remarks, Cham Nimul expressed appreciation for the warm hospitality extended by Pakistan and commended the technical teams and senior officials for their diligent work. She reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to structured, result-oriented economic cooperation and invited Pakistan to Cambodia for the third JTC meeting in 2027, preferably in January or February to maintain annual continuity.

She noted that beyond formal deliberations, cultural and people-to-people exchanges further strengthen bilateral economic ties and mutual understanding.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026