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Malaysian High Commissioner Mohammad Azhar Mazlan Leads ASEAN Delegation at FPCCI Roundtable on Pakistan-ASEAN Economic Integration

Islamabad, July 27, 2025 – The Europe Today: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), in collaboration with Regional Rapport, hosted a high-level ASEAN-FPCCI Trade Roundtable on Thursday under the theme “Economic Integration between Pakistan and the ASEAN Region.” The event, held at the FPCCI President Secretariat in Islamabad, gathered leading diplomats, government officials, business leaders, and trade experts to advance regional cooperation.

His Excellency Dato’ Mohammad Azhar Mazlan, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Pakistan, led the ASEAN delegation, accompanied by Mr. Mohd Syafik Firdaus Bin Hasbullah, Deputy Head of Mission, and Mr. Muhammad Zulasri Bin Rosdi, First Secretary. The interactive session was also graced by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, H.E. Mr. Rana Tanveer Hussain, and Federal Minister for Investment, H.E. Mr. Qaiser Ahmad Sheikh, as Guests of Honour.

Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain emphasized the untapped trade potential between Pakistan and ASEAN and identified key areas for cooperation, including textiles, agriculture, IT, pharmaceuticals, energy, and vocational training. Minister Qaiser Ahmad Sheikh reaffirmed Pakistan’s dedication to attracting ASEAN investments by simplifying regulations and safeguarding investor interests, calling for enhanced trade diplomacy and regional economic integration.

FPCCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh noted the current trade imbalance, with Pakistan exporting USD 2.2 billion to ASEAN and importing over USD 6 billion. He underlined Pakistan’s geostrategic potential as a regional hub and urged ASEAN partners to increase market access and investment flows into Pakistan.

In his keynote, Ambassador Azhar reiterated Malaysia’s support for deepening ASEAN-Pakistan economic ties, particularly under Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship. Citing the recent ASEAN Regional Forum and the anticipated visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Malaysia, the ambassador highlighted the role of leadership diplomacy in driving strategic cooperation.

Ambassador Azhar pointed to ASEAN’s emergence as the world’s fifth-largest economy with a GDP of over USD 4.1 trillion, projected to become the fourth-largest by 2030. He encouraged Pakistani enterprises to tap into ASEAN markets, particularly Malaysia, as a gateway to Southeast Asia, citing active Pakistani investments in Malaysian sectors like palm oil, textiles, and furniture, alongside Malaysian engagement in Pakistan via Maybank, TNB, and Proton.

The ambassador also proposed collaborations in Islamic finance, halal certification, renewable energy, and solar technology, highlighting Malaysia’s capacity to offer Chinese and German technological standards in solar manufacturing. He reaffirmed Malaysia’s willingness to support Pakistan’s dialogue partner status with ASEAN and noted visa facilitation for legitimate business travelers, workers, and tourists.

Concluding his remarks, Ambassador Azhar commended the FPCCI for organizing the event and affirmed the shared vision for robust ASEAN-Pakistan and Malaysia-Pakistan partnerships.