By Manal Abdel Fattah
The Fourth Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conference and One-Country Exhibition opened in Cairo on Tuesday. For the first time, Pakistan brought more than 100 companies to Egypt with the aim of enhancing trade and economic cooperation and opening new horizons between Egypt and Pakistan.
In his inaugural speech, Pakistani Minister of Commerce, Dr. Gohar Ijaz, stated that today, Pakistan’s economy is worth more than $100 billion and its population is about 250 million people.
He added, according to a statement issued by the Pakistani Embassy in Cairo, that Pakistan is ready to launch investor-friendly trade, investment and industrial policies, as the minister highlighted the free trade agreement with China, especially the free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Dr. Gohar Ijaz pledged to increase bilateral trade with Egypt tenfold, stressing that if Pakistan, Egypt and the countries of the MENA region can unite their strengths in different sectors of the economy, it will lead to a win-win situation for all. He stated that for this purpose, More than 100 Pakistani companies attended this conference.
The Minister of Commerce stressed that Pakistan and Egypt, as two sister countries, need to support each other, as he invited Egyptian investors to visit Pakistan, and asked the Egyptian business community and the Middle East and North Africa region to send a resounding message to the world together that we can work together and become an economic power. Ultimately giving its people the prosperity they deserve.
Dr. Gohar Ijaz, Federal Minister of Commerce, Industry and Production of Pakistan, along with Ozir Ahmed Samir, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Egypt and Alwaziz Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Public Business Sector, inaugurated the Fourth Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conference and One Country Exhibition at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in Cairo.
Meanwhile, a delegation including government officials and senior specialists in the business and industry sector from Pakistan, led by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Federal Production, visited Cairo to attend the Fourth Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conference and the One Country Exhibition from January 9 to 11, 2024.
The conference was attended by more than 80 senior businessmen and representatives of chambers of commerce from countries in the Middle East and North Africa region to strengthen business relations with businessmen from Pakistan. The event began with an exclusive official conference, followed by a comprehensive two-day exhibition on January 10 and 11, 2024.
More than 200 businessmen from Pakistan have arrived in Cairo to conclude business deals. These businessmen will represent more than 20 different business sectors including textiles, engineering goods, food, agriculture and services.
The conference reviewed opportunities to enhance trade and sign joint project agreements between local and Pakistani businessmen in multiple sectors of common interest.
It also provides an opportunity to enhance trade and investment relations between Pakistan and countries in the Middle East and North Africa region, and the exhibition enabled participants to learn about the potential of Pakistani products.
