Islamabad, October 4, 2024 – The Europe Today: On Thursday, Pakistan and Malaysia took significant steps towards fostering deeper economic cooperation and exploring new business opportunities beneficial to both nations. The agreement came during a meeting between Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, and Malaysia’s Minister for Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI), Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Zafrul Bin Tengku Abdul Aziz.
A press release highlighted the brotherly relations cherished by both countries across various fields. Minister Jam Kamal warmly welcomed the Malaysian minister to Pakistan, emphasizing the longstanding friendship between the two nations and the immense potential for expanding bilateral trade.
Minister Jam Kamal stressed the need for enhanced business engagements to turn this potential into reality. He noted that Pakistan has strong export capabilities, particularly in high-quality rice and mangoes, which are in demand worldwide. He informed the visiting minister that Pakistan had recently removed the Minimum Export Price (MEP) for rice, allowing exporters to negotiate more competitive prices. He encouraged Malaysia to engage more actively with Pakistan in importing rice.
A key focus of the meeting was the potential for exporting halal meat from Pakistan to Malaysia. Minister Jam Kamal reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining high halal standards, which are crucial for accessing the Malaysian market. He called for facilitation in the accreditation process for Pakistani meat and gelatin exporting companies, noting that cooperation in this sector could greatly boost trade.
The Malaysian minister acknowledged the procedural difficulties faced by Pakistani businesses in exporting meat to Malaysia due to JAKIM’s processes. He reassured his commitment to easing these procedures for Pakistani exporters.
Additionally, the Malaysian Minister for Trade invited Pakistan to participate in ASEAN activities, as Malaysia prepares to assume the ASEAN chairmanship.
In conclusion, Minister Jam Kamal reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for foreign investment and expressed optimism for the future of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Malaysia.
