ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Ethiopian Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Oumer Hussein Oba, held a detailed meeting to explore new avenues for strengthening bilateral trade, industrial collaboration, and regional connectivity between Pakistan and Ethiopia, with a particular focus on expanding engagement across African markets.
During the meeting, both sides expressed satisfaction over the growing momentum in Pakistan–Ethiopia relations and emphasized the need to translate this engagement into practical, results-oriented partnerships. The Commerce Minister noted that recent bilateral interactions have laid a “fresh foundation” for jointly exploring not only each other’s markets but also broader opportunities across Africa.
He proposed organising a multi-country business forum in Islamabad, inviting East African nations to witness Pakistan’s industrial capabilities firsthand. He stressed that such direct exposure would help reshape global perceptions about Pakistan and unlock new trade and investment opportunities.
Highlighting Pakistan’s strengths, the Minister underscored the country’s robust small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, which produces a diverse range of goods including home appliances, engineering products, agricultural machinery, and consumer goods. He pointed to strong potential for cooperation in agriculture and engineering industries, particularly in tractor manufacturing, noting that Pakistan’s expertise in these sectors could support mechanization and boost productivity in African economies.
A key area of discussion was the cosmetics and personal care industry, where the Minister noted significant growth in Pakistan over the past four to five years. He proposed joint ventures between Pakistani and Ethiopian firms in cosmetics, perfumes, and related products to tap into rising consumer demand in both regions.
Referring to Pakistan’s industrial success stories, the Minister invited the Ethiopian delegation to visit Sialkot, describing it as a unique model of private-sector-led development. He highlighted that the city’s business community, led by the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has independently developed infrastructure, including an international airport. Sialkot remains a global hub for sports goods, surgical instruments, leather products, and footwear, with exports reaching billions of dollars annually, including to the European Union.
On trade logistics, the Minister stressed the importance of improving connectivity and reducing reliance on third-country transshipment hubs such as Jebel Ali Port. He proposed enhancing direct maritime links through feeder vessels to African ports, which could significantly cut transit time from over 10–12 days to just 2–3 days.
He also highlighted Pakistan’s geographic advantage, particularly Karachi, as a gateway for African exports to Central Asia through regional maritime corridors, including Djibouti Port.
The Minister further emphasized the immense tourism potential in both countries, noting that Ethiopia’s natural beauty and climate are “truly remarkable,” while Pakistan remains a “sleeping giant” in the tourism sector.
During the discussion, Dr Oumer Hussein Oba informed the Minister that a Single Country Exhibition of Ethiopia is planned to be held in Islamabad by the end of this year, following a successful exhibition previously organized in Ethiopia. The Commerce Minister welcomed the initiative and described it as an important step toward strengthening bilateral trade ties.
The Ambassador also shared that Ethiopian Airlines is planning to launch direct flights to Lahore, which will significantly enhance business-to-business (B2B) linkages, improve connectivity, and promote cultural exchange between the two countries.
The Ethiopian side appreciated Pakistan’s economic progress and acknowledged the country’s skilled human resource base and strong hospitality sector. Dr Oba emphasized that human capital remains the most critical resource and called for deeper cooperation in education, skills development, and institutional collaboration.
Both sides agreed that Pakistan and African countries stand at a pivotal moment, where diversification, industrial cooperation—including agriculture, engineering, and tractor manufacturing—tourism promotion, and practical business engagement can unlock substantial economic opportunities. They reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing bilateral trade, promoting joint ventures, and building a long-term, quality-driven economic partnership.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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