Business leaders and diplomats from Pakistan and Southeast Asia have called for stronger trade, investment and business-to-business ties at a high-level Pakistan-ASEAN Business Roundtable held in Karachi on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
What happened?
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), in collaboration with the Honorary Consulate General of the Philippines in Karachi, organised the roundtable under the theme “Navigating Our Future Together”. The event brought together ASEAN diplomats, government representatives and business leaders to discuss economic cooperation. The ASEAN delegation was led by Dr. Emmanuel R. Fernandez, Ambassador of the Philippines and Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad, alongside the ambassadors of Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar, the High Commissioner of Malaysia and the Deputy Head of Mission of Brunei Darussalam.
Key details
- ASEAN represents approximately 680 million people and a combined GDP exceeding US$4 trillion.
- Bilateral trade between Pakistan and ASEAN stands at approximately US$11-12 billion, but Pakistan’s exports remain below US$1.5 billion.
- FPCCI proposed a Pakistan-ASEAN Business Forum with FPCCI as its secretariat, along with regular trade fairs, business-to-business exchanges and investment promotion.
- A proposed one-year, multiple-entry “ASEAN Business Visa Sticker” for eligible FPCCI members was put forward, subject to participating countries’ approval.
- Other proposals included multiple-entry visas for ASEAN investors, restoring direct flights between Karachi and Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Manila, and stronger correspondent banking relations.
- The roundtable concluded with a resolve to develop a two-year Pakistan-ASEAN Business Cooperation Roadmap and hold quarterly FPCCI-ASEAN Committee meetings.
- A business delegation to Malaysia is planned for early 2027.
What it means for people in Pakistan
Closer business ties with Southeast Asia could open new export markets for Pakistani textiles, agriculture, food products and IT services, and bring more investment and joint ventures. For small and medium businesses, the proposed forum, trade fairs and easier business travel could make it simpler to find partners and customers across the region.
Source: https://dnanews.com.pk/pakistan-asean-business-roundtable-calls-for-stronger-bilateral-trade-partnership/
