KARACHI: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Atif Ikram Sheikh has called for more proactive and commercially focused engagement between Pakistan and ASEAN countries, with greater emphasis on trade, investment, joint ventures, technology cooperation and business-to-business linkages.
Addressing an ASEAN Day 2026 commemoration organized by FPCCI at Federation House in Karachi under the theme “Strengthening Pakistan-ASEAN Trade, Investment and Economic Partnership,” Sheikh said ASEAN’s growing economic importance offered significant opportunities for Pakistani exporters and investors.
He stressed the need to strengthen direct interaction between the private sectors of Pakistan and ASEAN through business delegations, exhibitions, B2B meetings and institutional partnerships.
FPCCI Senior Vice President Saquib Fayyaz Magoon highlighted the untapped potential in Pakistan-ASEAN economic relations and said FPCCI was working to establish a Pakistan-ASEAN Business Council as a dedicated platform for business-to-business cooperation, trade delegations, investment and joint ventures.
He identified textiles, information technology, food processing, agriculture and value addition, cold storage, engineering, two-wheelers, tourism, fisheries and the blue economy as promising areas for cooperation. He also stressed the need to improve air and maritime connectivity to facilitate business, tourism and cargo movement.
Former FPCCI Senior Vice President Hanif Gohar called for translating Pakistan’s cordial diplomatic relations with ASEAN into stronger commercial partnerships. He urged greater participation by Pakistani companies in ASEAN exhibitions, regular interaction between chambers and trade associations, and increased focus on joint ventures and market-oriented cooperation.
The event was attended by ASEAN member-state consuls general and diplomats, representatives of ASEAN dialogue and sectoral dialogue partner countries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, FPCCI business council chairmen, business leaders and representatives of international trade and investment promotion organizations, including JETRO and KOTRA.
ASEAN diplomatic representatives shared perspectives on opportunities in their respective markets and encouraged Pakistani businesses to expand trade and investment cooperation. JETRO Country Head Masatomo Itonaga and KOTRA Director General Sungwoon Hwang also shared their views on Asian markets, investment, technology and business linkages.
Presentations were delivered by Pakistan’s Trade and Investment Counsellor for ASEAN Naseem Rashed, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation representative Nadar Ali Ghanghro and Maria Eugenia, technical adviser for ASEAN countries in the pharmaceutical industry in the Philippines.
The event concluded with broad agreement on the need for sustained business-to-business engagement, increased trade and investment, joint ventures, participation in exhibitions and stronger institutional cooperation to turn the longstanding Pakistan-ASEAN relationship into tangible economic opportunities.
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FPCCI reaffirmed its commitment to working with ASEAN diplomatic missions, business organizations and other stakeholders to build a stronger and mutually beneficial economic partnership.
