Jam meets Cambodian counterpart ahead of second JTC session

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan on Tuesday held a pre–Pakistan–Cambodia Joint Trade Committee (JTC) bilateral meeting with Cambodian Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul ahead of the second JTC session scheduled to take place in Islamabad on February 10–11, 2026. Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan was also present at the meeting.

Welcoming the Cambodian delegation, the Commerce Minister noted the positive momentum in bilateral economic engagement and recalled that the inaugural JTC session was held in Phnom Penh on January 21, 2025.

Both sides reaffirmed the JTC as the principal institutional forum for advancing trade, investment, and broader economic cooperation between Pakistan and Cambodia.

The two ministers reviewed opportunities to expand collaboration in priority sectors including pharmaceuticals and healthcare products, textiles and value-added apparel, agriculture and agro-processing, as well as leather and light manufacturing. They agreed to enhance business-to-business engagement through chambers of commerce and sectoral associations to ensure that policy-level discussions translate into tangible commercial outcomes.

Both sides also exchanged views on improving trade facilitation and strengthening logistics connectivity to reduce costs and ensure reliable supply chains. Emphasis was placed on efficient shipping and regional connectivity to support exporters, particularly in time-sensitive and high-volume sectors.

Concluding the meeting, both ministers expressed confidence that the forthcoming JTC session would help identify priority sectors and practical deliverables, further strengthening Pakistan–Cambodia economic relations through sustained cooperation.

Separately, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) hosted a business engagement in honour of Her Excellency Cham Nimul to promote Pakistan–Cambodia trade, investment, and private-sector linkages.

Addressing a networking lunch hosted by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) in honour of the Cambodian Minister and her delegation, Jam Kamal Khan highlighted Pakistan’s evolving export landscape. He cited consistent growth in pharmaceuticals, strong performance in information and communication technology (ICT), and rising value addition in the food sector. He noted that while Pakistan had limited presence in value-added food exports a decade ago, it is now witnessing significant progress across the entire food value chain.

The Commerce Minister also pointed to emerging and expanding export lines, including engineering goods, home and electrical appliances, water bikes, tractors, cosmetics, and perfumes, as evidence of Pakistan’s growing industrial diversification and export maturity.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026