PHMA seeks partnership with ‘Dubai International Chamber’

KARACHI: The Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMA) has sought a formal partnership with Dubai Chamber International to institutionalize business support and facilitation for members of both organizations, and to hold a joint business roundtable to explore trade and investment opportunities in value-added apparel, textiles and allied sectors.

The Chief Representative of Dubai Chamber International in Pakistan, Abeer Saleem Gul, visited the PHMA office to brief the association’s leaders on Dubai Chamber’s activities and initiatives in Pakistan.

PHMA Zonal Chairman Faisal Arshad Sheikh exchanged views with Abeer Saleem Gul, along with Khadim Rasool, Secretary General, and Amjad Usman, Secretary (South).

Faisal Arshad Sheikh highlighted the strong but underutilized potential for trade and investment between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. He said business opportunities exist between members of PHMA and Dubai Chamber, stressing the need for structured coordination and regular business meetings. He noted that PHMA is actively working to expand exports to the Middle East and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, with Dubai serving as a key regional business hub.

He added that several PHMA members already operate business offices in Dubai and have manufacturing units in free zones. PHMA expressed interest in formally partnering with Dubai Chamber International to strengthen trade linkages with UAE buyers and to access international markets through Dubai Chamber’s global network. He also said PHMA intends to lead a delegation to the UAE for the signing of a proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two organisations.

Abeer Saleem Gul said the establishment of the Chamber’s Pakistan office is part of the “Dubai Global” initiative, which aims to open 50 representative offices worldwide by 2030. The initiative seeks to strengthen Dubai’s role as a leading global business hub by attracting foreign direct investment and supporting the international expansion of local companies into priority markets.

She said the Pakistan office will work to expand bilateral cooperation between the business communities of both countries. It will provide market intelligence to help Pakistani companies establish operations in Dubai and use the emirate as a base for international growth. The office will also support Dubai-based companies planning to enter the Pakistani market by offering insights into local conditions and identifying trade and investment opportunities.

Both sides discussed signing a MoU to formalize and institutionalize business support and facilitation for members of PHMA and Dubai Chamber. A PHMA–Dubai Chamber business roundtable is planned in the near future to tap existing and new opportunities in value-added apparel, textiles and related sectors.

The meeting also focused on the exchange of business, investment and trade information, as well as cooperation in exhibitions involving UAE stakeholders and global brands with offices in Dubai, under the joint framework of Dubai Chamber International and PHMA.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026