A high-profile ASEAN trade delegation representing 10 Southeast Asian nations visited FPCCI in Karachi to boost Pakistan-ASEAN trade relations. The event featured B2B networking, investment talks, and discussions on reducing Pakistan’s $11 billion trade deficit with ASEAN. Key sectors like textiles, IT, and renewable energy were highlighted for future collaborations.
KARACHI: A high-profile ASEAN trade delegation, representing 10 Southeast Asian nations, visited the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) to strengthen trade relations and explore business opportunities between Pakistan and the ASEAN bloc.
Led by Goh Boon Kim, the 45-member delegation included prominent business leaders from key sectors such as textiles, agriculture, IT, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. The event was also attended by Faiz Ahmad, CEO of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), and Consul Generals of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
ASEAN: A $3.6 Trillion Market for Pakistani Exports
Atif Ikram Sheikh, President of FPCCI, ECO-CCI, and VP CACCI, highlighted that ASEAN—comprising Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Brunei—is the world’s 5th largest economy with a combined GDP of $3.6 trillion. He emphasized the need for enhanced trade collaboration to boost Pakistani exports.
B2B Session Opens Doors for Trade & Investment
A dedicated B2B session allowed Pakistani businessmen to network with ASEAN investors, discussing potential joint ventures (JVs), export opportunities, and foreign investments.
Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, Senior Vice President (SVP) of FPCCI, pointed out that Pakistan-ASEAN trade remains below potential, despite existing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Malaysia and Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) with Indonesia. He also revealed ongoing FTA talks with Thailand and PTA negotiations with Vietnam, stressing the need to reduce Pakistan’s $11 billion trade deficit with ASEAN.
Why ASEAN Should Invest in Pakistan?
Abdul Mohamin Khan, Regional Chairman & VP FPCCI, highlighted strong cultural and economic ties between Pakistan and ASEAN, calling for deeper business collaboration.
Asif Inam, VP FPCCI & former Chairman APTMA, pitched Pakistan as an ideal investment hub due to its:
✔ Strategic location (access to Middle East, Central Asia, and Western China)
✔ Abundant skilled workforce
✔ Business-friendly policies
Key Takeaways from the FPCCI-ASEAN Meeting
- ASEAN offers massive export potential for Pakistani textiles, agriculture, IT, and pharmaceuticals.
- FTAs & PTAs can help bridge the $11 billion trade gap.
- B2B networking can lead to new investments and joint ventures.
This high-level engagement marks a significant step towards stronger Pakistan-ASEAN trade relations, opening doors for economic growth and mutual prosperity.