ISLAMABAD, Oct 20 (APP):Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan on Tuesday held a meeting with United States Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker and discussed strengthening bilateral economic relations, accelerating ongoing trade agreement negotiations, expanding market access and exploring new opportunities for cooperation in agriculture, minerals, technology and investment.
Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Industries, Secretary Commerce Jawad Paul and senior officials of the Ministry of Commerce also attended the meeting, said a news release.
Welcoming the US delegation, the minister underscored Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its longstanding economic partnership with the United States, highlighting the potential to expand bilateral trade through enhanced market access, greater private-sector engagement and investment in emerging sectors.
Jam Kamal highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to diversify its export markets and strengthen international commercial partnerships despite prevailing regional and global economic challenges.
He said deeper economic engagement with the US could create new opportunities for businesses, enhance industrial competitiveness and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
Both sides reviewed progress on the ongoing Pakistan–U.S. bilateral reciprocal trade agreement negotiations and expressed their commitment to advancing discussions towards a mutually beneficial outcome.
Secretary Commerce Jawad Paul informed the meeting that substantial progress had been achieved on several important provisions of the proposed agreement while a few technical points need to be discussed with the USTR.
The meeting also discussed market access opportunities for Pakistani agricultural products, particularly mangoes and dates. Jawad Paul stressed the need to expedite the visit of relevant U.S. inspection teams for mango export arrangements and sought progress on the pending market access process for Pakistani dates.
He said that greater access to the U.S. market would create valuable export opportunities, particularly for growers and businesses in Balochistan.
The U.S. delegation welcomed the discussion and indicated its willingness to follow up with the relevant American authorities on these matters.
Both sides also explored opportunities to increase agricultural trade, particularly U.S. exports of cotton and soybeans to Pakistan. The Secretary Commerce highlighted the importance of competitive pricing and trade financing in facilitating greater imports from the United States.
Discussions also covered possible financing arrangements and closer coordination with relevant trade institutions and industry associations.
Jam Kamal underlined Pakistan’s significant potential in agriculture, food processing, livestock and value-added production, encouraging US companies to explore investment opportunities in modern agricultural machinery, food processing technologies, cold-chain infrastructure and improved farming practices.
He invited American businesses and agricultural organizations to participate in FoodAg 2026, scheduled to be held in Karachi from November 23 to 26, saying the exhibition would provide an important platform to connect international buyers and investors with Pakistan’s growing agricultural and food-processing industries.
The U.S. Chargé d’Affaires appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to promote agricultural trade and expressed interest in facilitating greater engagement between American agricultural technology companies and Pakistani businesses.
Highlighting Balochistan’s economic potential, Jam Kamal identified dates, olive oil and other agricultural products as promising areas for value addition and export development.
He said international cooperation could help improve processing facilities, product quality, packaging and access to global markets, while creating opportunities for small enterprises, farmers and women entrepreneurs.
Minerals and mining also featured prominently in the discussions, with both sides exploring opportunities for investment, technical cooperation, skills development and responsible resource development.
The U.S. delegation conveyed continued interest in strengthening cooperation in Pakistan’s mineral sector, including opportunities for American companies to contribute technical expertise, investment and commercial partnerships.
The minister also highlighted the industrial potential of Hub, Balochistan, noting its strategic proximity to Karachi and opportunities for investment in manufacturing, industrial infrastructure and special economic zones. He welcomed the existing presence of American companies in Pakistan and encouraged further private-sector investment.
During the discussion on regional trade connectivity, Secretary Commerce highlighted challenges arising from disruptions to traditional land trade routes, particularly those connecting Pakistan with Afghanistan and Central Asian markets.
He observed that uninterrupted regional connectivity, predictable trade arrangements and efficient logistics were essential for sustaining export growth and maintaining long-term commercial relationships.
The minister emphasized that Pakistan remained committed to strengthening its economic resilience, improving the business environment and expanding trade opportunities while taking into consideration broader regional developments.
Both sides acknowledged the importance of continued institutional dialogue, stronger business-to-business contacts and practical cooperation in promoting shared economic interests.
Jam Kamal reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to developing a forward-looking economic partnership with the United States, based on mutual respect, shared opportunities and sustainable commercial growth.
U.S. Chargé d’Affaires appreciated the constructive discussions and reiterated the United States’ interest in expanding economic engagement with Pakistan, particularly in trade, agriculture, technology and investment.
Both sides agreed to maintain close coordination to advance ongoing trade negotiations, address market access issues and explore new opportunities for mutually beneficial economic cooperation.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
