ISLAMABAD: The Netherlands has cautioned Pakistan that continuation of preferential market access under the European Union’s GSP+ scheme is not guaranteed, stressing that concrete steps on human rights are necessary for the country to retain the crucial trade facility.
Dutch Ambassador Robert-Jan Siegert made these remarks while addressing a high-level economic roundtable conference and networking reception hosted by the Embassy of the Netherlands at the Ambassador’s Residence here on Thursday.
He said the event was aimed at bringing together the strong Dutch business community in Pakistan with Pakistani partners, government representatives, members of the diplomatic corps and other stakeholders to strengthen economic dialogue and commercial cooperation.
“The positive decision on Pakistan’s status is not necessarily a given,” the ambassador said, underlining the crucial importance of GSP+ for market access.
He stressed that concrete steps in the field of human rights were also necessary, as Pakistan sought to further deepen its economic and trade relationship with the Netherlands and the wider European market.
Siegert said Dutch business had a strong and longstanding presence in Pakistan, with Dutch companies playing an important role in the country’s economy.
“Dutch business is closer to everyday life in Pakistan than one might think,” he said, citing everyday products and brands associated with Dutch investment, expertise and partnerships.
He said the Dutch business footprint extended well beyond consumer products, with successful joint ventures such as Engro Vopak and Barkat Frisian Agro demonstrating how Dutch expertise and Pakistani entrepreneurship could combine to create long-term economic value.
The ambassador also highlighted the contribution of Dutch companies to social and community development.
He said FrieslandCampina was empowering rural women through its smallholder milk collection programme while contributing to public health by providing safe and nutritious milk.
Similarly, AkzoNobel, through Dulux Paints, had supported community development initiatives, including the repainting of DherPindi, a neighbourhood in Lahore, he added.
“These examples remind us that the Dutch business presence in Pakistan is not simply about companies operating in a foreign market; it is about building partnerships, creating value, sharing knowledge and investing in a relationship that has the potential to grow even further,” Siegert said.
He said Pakistan and the Netherlands could work together on issues of common interest, including gender equality and climate resilience, which he described as key priorities.
The ambassador said the reception was not merely an occasion to celebrate past achievements but also an opportunity to look ahead towards new connections, ideas, reforms and commercial opportunities.
According to the Embassy, more than 50 Dutch companies are present in Pakistan, operating across sectors including agriculture, food and beverages and industrial storage.
The Netherlands is Pakistan’s second-largest trading partner within the European Union, with bilateral trade reaching around USD 1.9 billion.
The country also serves as an important transit hub for Pakistani exports to the wider European market through the Port of Rotterdam, one of Europe’s largest ports.
Speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Pakistan was in a good position with respect to trade and investment flows, but the potential between the two countries remained largely unrealised.
He said Pakistan and its international partners were “underwhelming” themselves in terms of tapping the huge potential available for greater trade and investment.
Aurangzeb also highlighted Pakistan’s recently announced USD 3 billion international bond issue, describing it as the largest international bond issue in the country’s history.
He said the transaction reflected growing confidence among international investors and followed three sovereign credit-rating upgrades since April 2025.
The minister said the bond received an order book roughly twice the size of the amount offered, with participation from investors in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the United States.
He described the upgrades as important external validation for investors and companies considering Pakistan.
Aurangzeb said the government would not stop at the current sovereign rating and was working with rating agencies to break the existing ceiling and achieve at least a double-B rating.
He said the objective was to provide investors with a stable and predictable environment rather than the boom-and-bust cycles Pakistan had experienced in the past.
“Local investors and foreign investors need continuity; they need policy consistency,” the finance minister said, assuring the business community of the government’s commitment to supporting investment and economic activity.
Minister for Water Resources Mian Muhammad Mueen Wattoo and Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Masood Malik also attended the event, alongside senior government officials, diplomats, business leaders and representatives of the Dutch and Pakistani corporate communities.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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