By Muhammad Luqman
The first-ever Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conference will be held in Kenay’s capital , Nairobi from Thursday, January 30.
The two- day event is being jointly hosted by Pakistan’s Ministries of Commerce and Foreign Affairs.
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood will address the opening ceremony of the moot, to be participated by Kenyan Cabinet members, dignitaries from other African States and Pakistani envoys in Africa.
The event will be attended 100 members strong trade delegation from Pakistan led by Prime Minister’s Advisor on Commerce, Textile, Industry and Production, Abdul Razzak Dawood.
Pakistan launches ‘Look Africa Initiative’ to diversify exports destinations
During the visit, Foreign Minister Qureshi will hold meetings with the Kenyan leadership, including Cabinet Secretaries for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, African Community and Northern Corridor Development, Transport and Ports, as well as for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, a Foreign Office statement issued in the capital, Islamabad said.
Africa’s increasing integration and growth momentum together with Pakistan’s potential as a connectivity hub, have opened multiple avenues for win-win collaboration.
The Conference will provide a platform for G2G (Government to Government) and B2B (Business to Business) interaction.
It will be an important opportunity for Pakistani and African businesses to interface, identify the areas for enhanced engagement, and develop proposals for customized economic collaboration.
The Conference was part of Pakistan’s ‘Engage Africa’ initiative, which was in line with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision to forge closer political and economic ties with the African Continent, and place a stronger accent on economic diplomacy, the foreign office statement said.
Pakistan has been a long-standing partner of Africa – from extending assistance in freedom struggles from colonial yoke, to supporting peace and security through participation in multiple peace-keeping operations under the UN auspices.
Pakistan enjoys fraternal relations with all African partners, including Kenya, grounded in shared interests, mutual respect and mutual support.
“Since economic stability is pivotal for a free and independent foreign policy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in order to achieve that objective, has adopted economic diplomacy as a basic fundamental and moving forward,” Foreign Minister Qureshi in a pre-departure statement said on Tuesday.
