Islamabad, In a significant move to enhance bilateral trade and investment, the Dutch Ambassador to Pakistan, H.E. Henny Fokel de Vries, met with Pakistan’s Minister of Commerce and Industries, Dr. Gohar Ejaz. The meeting focused on strengthening trade relations and exploring new avenues of economic collaboration between Pakistan and the Netherlands.

According to Press Information Department, Ambassador de Vries expressed satisfaction with the existing strong trade ties, especially in the textile sector, and showed interest in Pakistan’s livestock and potatoes. Emphasizing the potential for robust partnership in agriculture, she highlighted Pakistan’s abundance of land and labor. The Ambassador also expressed the Netherlands’ interest in exploring additional opportunities for trade growth, including technology and academic exchange.

Minister Ejaz acknowledged the Netherlands as one of Pakistan’s top ten foreign trade partners and discussed Pakistan’s vast investment potential, particularly in IT, agriculture, and mining. He highlighted the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council in streamlining foreign direct investment and the availability of arable land in Punjab. The Minister also emphasized the potential for technology investment and IT exports, expressing eagerness for technology transfer in agriculture with Dutch collaboration.

Further, Minister Ejaz expressed interest in cooperation with the Netherlands Centre for the Promotion of Imports (CBI) to support agricultural exports to the Netherlands. Plans for collaboration in wind power were discussed, with the Netherlands recognized as a leader in this field. Additionally, an invitation was extended to the Netherlands to explore opportunities in a special economic zone at Karachi Port.

The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and exploring new avenues for economic collaboration between Pakistan and the Netherlands.