Pakistan has expressed strong interest in enhancing bilateral trade with Bangladesh, as Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan paid a courtesy visit to the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) and held an interactive meeting with DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed on Thursday.
DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed highlighted the cultural, culinary, and lifestyle similarities between the two countries, noting that Pakistani textiles and jewelry enjoy strong demand in Bangladesh.
He stressed that Bangladesh’s private sector has long been advocating for Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with potential partners, adding that an FTA between Bangladesh and Pakistan would significantly expand bilateral trade. He further underscored the need for direct passenger and cargo flights to strengthen business connectivity.
Minister Jam Kamal Khan emphasized that both Bangladesh and Pakistan rely heavily on apparel and textiles for exports, but called for diversification to remain competitive. He pointed out the growing global demand for re-used clothing, particularly in Europe, Canada, and the United States, and suggested that entrepreneurs from both countries could collaborate to capture this market.
He also noted opportunities for joint efforts in Africa, East Africa, and Central Asia, while reminding that both nations themselves possess large consumer markets yet to be fully explored.
The minister also said Pakistan is performing strongly in cement, sugar, footwear, and leather manufacturing, and encouraged Bangladesh to consider imports from these sectors.
At the same time, he praised Bangladesh’s progress in pharmaceuticals, suggesting knowledge exchange to help Pakistan’s sector grow. He further stressed the importance of adopting new technologies and enhancing value addition in agriculture to tap into the billion-dollar global market. Khan announced that a Single Country Exhibition of Pakistani products will soon be organised in Dhaka to foster stronger private-sector ties.
The meeting was also attended by Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider, DCCI Senior Vice President Razeev H. Chowdhury, Vice President Md. Salem Sulaiman, members of the DCCI board, and senior officials from the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka.