Pakistan and Germany have agreed to strengthen Pakistan Germany trade and expand investment and business ties between the two countries. The understanding was reached during a meeting between Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and German Ambassador Ina Lepel in Islamabad.
During the meeting, Jam Kamal Khan invited German companies to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan. The German ambassador appreciated Pakistan’s progress on reforms linked to the GSP+ framework and acknowledged the potential for stronger economic cooperation.
The commerce minister said Pakistan remains committed to fulfilling its international obligations under GSP+. He stressed the importance of continued cooperation with European partners to support trade and improve access for Pakistani products in international markets.
The meeting also covered the geographical indication (GI) issue concerning Pakistani basmati rice. Rana Ehsan Afzal raised the matter with the German ambassador and stressed the need to protect the interests of basmati growers, producers and exporters.
Rana Ehsan Afzal said Pakistan’s case for the GI protection of basmati rice has strong legal, historical and commercial foundations. The German ambassador said effective protection of geographical indications is important for promoting agricultural exports and protecting the identity of products.
The German envoy highlighted investment opportunities in Pakistan’s agriculture, food processing, technology and manufacturing sectors. Jam Kamal Khan also invited German companies to participate in FoodAg Pakistan 2026, scheduled to take place in Karachi in November, describing it as a potential platform for business partnerships.
The ambassador welcomed the invitation and said preparations were underway for a Pakistani business delegation to attend a commercial livestock exhibition in Germany. She also invited Jam Kamal Khan to the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business in Seoul from October 29 to 31, while the minister expressed interest in considering participation.
