Islamabad: In a high-level virtual meeting, Pakistan and Ethiopia agreed to enhance their bilateral trade relations while focusing on the World Trade Organization (WTO) accession process and market-access issues within the pharmaceutical sector. Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Ethiopia’s Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, Yasmin Wohabrebbi, led the discussions on Friday.
According to Press Information Department, Minister Jam Kamal Khan reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening economic ties with Ethiopia, acknowledging its strategic position as a gateway to East African markets. He highlighted opportunities for collaboration in sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, textiles, and investment, following his earlier visit to Ethiopia with a Pakistani business delegation.
Minister Khan emphasized the importance of translating diplomatic goodwill into concrete commercial outcomes, advocating for direct air connectivity with Ethiopia and addressing outstanding WTO market-access negotiations and pharmaceutical registration issues.
Ethiopian Trade Minister Yasmin Wohabrebbi lauded Pakistan’s constructive approach, providing updates on Ethiopia’s WTO accession progress. She noted that 11 out of 17 bilateral market-access agreements were concluded and sought Pakistan’s assistance in completing the accession process while safeguarding its trade interests through ongoing consultations.
Secretary Commerce Jawad Paul stressed the significance of technical-level coordination between institutions to resolve pharmaceutical registration matters, facilitate market access, and ensure practical progress on trade priorities. Regular follow-ups were deemed essential to eliminate regulatory bottlenecks and stimulate private-sector engagement.
The ministers discussed strengthening institutional cooperation, proposing the convening of the Joint Economic Committee and developing a roadmap to expand trade and investment. They expressed intentions to resolve outstanding issues before their planned bilateral engagement in February 2027.
Concluding the meeting, Minister Khan reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a robust economic partnership with Ethiopia, emphasizing that timely decisions and concrete actions could unlock significant trade potential between the two nations. Ambassadors, Secretary Commerce, and senior officials from both countries participated in the virtual discussions.