Brazilian market: Pakistan needs well-tailored, sector-specific strategy: LCCI

LAHORE: Pakistan needs a well-tailored, sector-specific strategy to tap the Brazilian market, as the existing bilateral trade volume falls far short of the two countries’ potential, President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Ali Hassam Asghar said on Thursday.

Speaking at a meeting with Trade Counsellor/Head of Mission, Embassy of Pakistan in Brazil, Dr Muhammad Babar Chohan, at the LCCI, he called for stronger business-to-business linkages, reliable market intelligence and greater interaction between the business communities of Pakistan and Brazil.

Ali said expanding trade relations with international markets should remain a key priority, urging Pakistani commercial missions to facilitate exporters by providing market intelligence, identifying potential buyers and creating opportunities for direct business contacts. He also asked Dr Babar Chohan to provide data on Indian exporters to Brazil to help Pakistani exporters identify potential buyers, understand competitors, and explore opportunities for increasing Pakistan’s market share.

Dr Babar Chohan stressed the need for a sector-by-sector and product-by-product approach to Latin American markets, supported by market intelligence, commercial diplomacy, innovation, artificial intelligence and compliance with international standards. He said Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela offered considerable potential for Pakistani exports. Pakistan, he added, needed to understand what individual markets required, who the buyers were, what standards applied and what competing countries were offering and at what prices.

He said FoodAg 2026 in Karachi would provide an important opportunity to bring Latin American buyers and business leaders to Pakistan. During the previous expo, around 15 leading CEOs from Brazil and Colombia were brought to Karachi, resulting in business contacts and opportunities, particularly in the textile sector.

LCCI Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani called for diversification beyond conventional export categories and identification of non-traditional products that Pakistan could supply competitively.

LCCI Vice President Khadim Hussain Chaudhry said Pakistan needed to approach international markets strategically, with greater focus on competitiveness, market access, product positioning, quality, and buyer relationships.

Former LCCI SVP Nasir Hameed Khan said Pakistan’s share of Brazil’s import market remained very small despite its capabilities in rubber products, apparel, textiles, medical supplies, plastics, surgical instruments and sports goods. Brazil’s imports were around USD280 billion, while Pakistan’s share was reportedly only 0.04 percent, he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026