Council to connect Pakistani businesses with 1.59b population, starting with Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda
Pakistan Africa Monitoring Desk Islamabad
The Pakistan-Africa Economic Council (PAEC)is set to be formally launched on Friday 11 Sep in Islamabad to help Pakistani businesses tap into Africa’s 1.59-billion-strong consumer market and expand trade, investment and commercial partnerships with the continent.
The platform, which is described as Pakistan’s first official Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP)-authorised and registered Africa entrepreneurship platform, aims to create a new avenue for expanding Pakistan’s trade, investment, and business partnerships with Africa’s rapidly growing markets.
It will connect Pakistani and international entrepreneurs, investors and businesses with project-specific opportunities and joint ventures in Pakistan and selected African countries.
With Africa’s population standing at approximately 1.59 billion, the council aims to unlock greater trade engagement between Pakistani businesses and African economies by connecting capital, production capacity and entrepreneurial expertise with viable projects.
The PAEC will initially focus on East Africa, particularly Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda and Djibouti, before expanding its engagement to Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan.
The missions will provide entrepreneurs and investors with opportunities to explore projects, meet potential partners and assess investment prospects directly in the region.
Pakistan-Africa trade has expanded beyond its pre-2020 base, but the relationship remains significantly below its potential. With Africa’s merchandise trade reaching approximately US$1.5 trillion in 2024, expanding regional integration under the AfCFTA, and Pakistan actively pursuing its Look Africa strategy, the next phase must move from trade promotion toward sustained commercial presence, investment and value-chain partnerships.
Pakistan-Africa trade has expanded beyond its pre-2020 base, but the relationship remains significantly below its potential. According to PAEC, Pak Africa trade level in Financial Year 2024-25 is $4.85 billion with export growth of 51%.
The council intends to facilitate partnerships that can support economic growth, industrial development, employment and regional connectivity.
According to the PAEC, its strength lies in its network of experienced production and business partners in Pakistan, combined with established relationships with African businesses, local partners and government stakeholders.
As part of its international outreach, the council has scheduled two business-opportunity trips to East Africa for the last quarter of 2026, in collaboration with local partners and host governments.
The PAEC aims to move beyond traditional trade promotion by facilitating the implementation of high-impact projects and sustainable joint ventures. Its broader vision is to become an effective bridge between Pakistan and Africa, connecting capital, capacity and entrepreneurs with tangible opportunities.
Through stronger private-sector cooperation and project-based investment, the PAEC seeks to contribute to deeper economic and trade ties between Pakistan and African countries.
Africa entered 2025 with a stronger investment story: expanding consumer markets, major infrastructure requirements, accelerating digitalization, the AfCFTA integration agenda and significant demand for private capital. Foreign direct investment reached a record US$97 billion in 2024, although one exceptionally large Egyptian transaction materially influenced the headline number. Serious investors must select the right country, sector, structure, partners and regulatory pathway.
Africa combines significant unmet healthcare needs with an accelerating drive toward local pharmaceutical manufacturing, regulatory harmonization, pooled procurement, health technology and resilient medical supply chains. Pakistan can contribute through affordable generics, surgical instruments, hospital supplies, healthcare technology and long-term production partnerships.
Africa’s digital economy is moving from mobile access to platform-scale transformation. Connectivity, mobile money, digital identity, cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence are reshaping trade and public services, while Pakistan’s software, payments and services base creates a practical foundation for technology partnerships.
About Pakistan Africa Economic Council
The Pakistan Africa Economic Council (PAEC) is a pioneering organization established to catalyze comprehensive cooperation between Pakistan and the African continent.
Licensed by SECP under section 42 of the Companies Act 2017 as a non-profit public limited company, PAEC advances economic synergies, institutional linkages and people-to-people connections for mutual prosperity.
The significance of PAEC extends beyond mere commercial interests. It represents a paradigm shift toward genuine partnership based on mutual respect, shared challenges, and common aspirations. This foundation provides the PAEC with unique advantages in fostering authentic, long-term partnerships that prioritize mutual benefit over extractive relationships.
