According to an official statement issued on Tuesday, federal ministers, senior officials, diplomats, and leading business representatives from both countries attended the event. In his address, Kamal welcomed the Vietnamese delegation, describing the visit as a reflection of both nations’ resolve to transform friendship into a “future-oriented economic partnership.”
He noted that Pakistan and Vietnam enjoy cordial relations built on mutual respect, political understanding, and people-to-people linkages. The business forum, he said, marked a major step toward expanding commercial and investment cooperation.
The minister observed that although bilateral trade between the two countries has shown steady progress, it still remains below potential. He identified sectors such as textiles, leather, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food processing, fisheries, construction materials, and information technology as key areas for collaboration and urged businesses to take full advantage of these opportunities.
The most significant outcome of the meeting was the formal signing of the Joint Statement on the Launch of Pakistan-Vietnam PTA negotiations by both ministers. The signing marks a historic milestone in bilateral trade relations and initiates a structured process to conclude the agreement by the end of 2025.
The PTA will provide a comprehensive framework to enhance market access, diversify trade baskets, and remove tariff and non-tariff barriers. It is expected to create a balanced and mutually beneficial trading partnership, boosting competitiveness and export potential for both economies.
The Vietnamese minister welcomed the initiative, saying the PTA would help diversify export markets, strengthen resilience to global economic challenges, and open new avenues for sustainable and inclusive growth. He underscored that negotiations must be conducted transparently and yield balanced benefits for both countries.
Kamal encouraged the private sectors of both nations to view each other as long-term collaborators rather than short-term trading partners. He highlighted Pakistan’s strategic location, investor-friendly environment, and young, skilled workforce as key strengths. He invited Vietnamese investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) for joint ventures, manufacturing partnerships, and re-exports to regional markets.
Both sides also agreed to improve connectivity and people-to-people exchanges. Discussions included establishing direct flight routes between Pakistan and Vietnam to facilitate trade, tourism, and business travel, and easing visa procedures to support entrepreneurs and tourists.
Highlighting the shared cultural and spiritual heritage, Kamal spoke about the potential for religious and cultural tourism linked to Pakistan’s Gandhara and Taxila civilisations, home to some of the world’s most revered Buddhist heritage sites. The Vietnamese minister acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts to promote Buddhist tourism and termed pilgrimages to these sites as journeys to the spiritual roots of Buddhism.
Referring to Vietnam’s remarkable economic transformation, the commerce minister said Pakistan seeks to learn from Vietnam’s experience in value-added manufacturing, industrial modernisation, and trade facilitation to expand its own export base. He noted that the two countries can cooperate in industrial development and technology transfer to enhance competitiveness.
He also invited Vietnamese enterprises to participate in the upcoming FoodAg Exhibition in Karachi in November 2025, which will highlight Pakistan’s growing capacity in agriculture, food processing, and allied industries.
Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, and expressed solidarity with the people affected by recent floods in Vietnam.
The event concluded with the signing ceremony of the Joint Statement, marking the formal launch of PTA negotiations and reaffirming both nations’ shared determination to build a comprehensive, future-oriented, and sustainable economic partnership.
Kamal concluded his remarks by saying that the Pakistan-Vietnam Business Forum represented “the beginning of a new chapter in our bilateral relations – one defined by trust, mutual benefit, and shared prosperity.”