Islamabad: Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani met with Dr. Gordan Grlic Radman, the Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, in a significant diplomatic engagement aimed at strengthening Pakistan-Croatia relations. The meeting, held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, marked the first visit of a Croatian Foreign Minister to Pakistan, highlighting the growing importance of bilateral ties.
According to Senate of Pakistan, Mr. Gilani welcomed the Croatian delegation and described the visit as a historic milestone in the longstanding friendship between the two nations. He expressed optimism that this engagement would invigorate cooperation across various sectors. The Acting President acknowledged Croatia’s progress in recent decades and its roles within the European Union and NATO, stressing Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing ties with Croatia and the EU.
Diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Croatia were established over 30 years ago, and Mr. Gilani highlighted the importance of regular high-level exchanges and parliamentary diplomacy. He proposed the creation of Pakistan-Croatia Parliamentary Friendship Groups to facilitate continuous dialogue between the countries’ elected representatives. An invitation was also extended to Croatian President Zoran Milanovic for an official visit to Pakistan.
Mr. Gilani emphasized expanding bilateral trade and investment, noting the current trade volume falls short of its potential. He praised Croatian companies like Infobip and KONCAR for their contributions in Pakistan and encouraged further Croatian investments in sectors such as information technology, renewable energy, and agriculture. He highlighted Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council as a mechanism to support foreign investment.
Additionally, the Acting President proposed enhancing regional connectivity through cooperation between Karachi Port and Croatian ports to boost trade with European markets. He underscored opportunities for collaboration in education, sports, and IT, emphasizing Pakistan’s competitive digital workforce. Mr. Gilani also stressed the importance of skilled Pakistani professionals contributing to Croatia’s development in construction, transport, and hospitality sectors.
The Croatian Foreign Minister expressed gratitude for the warm reception and reiterated Croatia’s commitment to deepening its partnership with Pakistan. Both sides agreed on the importance of maintaining regular high-level contacts to fully realize the potential of their bilateral relations. The meeting also saw the attendance of Pakistan’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, reflecting the significance of this diplomatic engagement.