{"id":69322,"date":"2026-10-09T01:45:02","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T01:45:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/?p=69322"},"modified":"2026-10-09T02:01:30","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T02:01:30","slug":"pakistan-philippines-opening-new-avenues-for-trade-investment-economic-cooperation-says-ambassador-asima-rabbani","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/pakistan-philippines-opening-new-avenues-for-trade-investment-economic-cooperation-says-ambassador-asima-rabbani\/","title":{"rendered":"Pakistan, Philippines Opening New Avenues for Trade, Investment, Economic Cooperation : Says Ambassador Asima Rabbani"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"ASEAN Monitoring Desk Islamabad\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Interview by Shams Abbasi in Manila for Associated Press of Pakistan<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Pakistan and the Philippines are set to initiate preliminary discussions next year on a proposed Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), opening a new avenue for expanding bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation, Pakistan\u2019s Ambassador to the Philippines Dr. Asima Rabbani.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Talking to APP in exclusive interview at the Pakistan Embassy in Manila, the ambassador said the proposed PTA could help diversify the bilateral trade basket, rationalize tariffs and unlock the considerable untapped potential of economic relations between the two countries.<\/p>\n

Pakistan\u2019s envoy said Pakistan and the Philippines had vast opportunities to expand economic ties by diversifying trade and integrating businesses from both sides into global and bilateral supply chains.<\/p>\n

Dr. Asima said the two countries had already agreed to conduct feasibility studies and establish a technical working group to explore the possibility of a PTA, aimed at trade liberalization and enhancing bilateral commerce, with a target of increasing annual trade to $500 million.<\/p>\n

She said the 2nd meeting of the Pakistan-Philippines Joint Economic Commission (JEC), held in Manila in February 2026, marked the resumption of the bilateral economic dialogue after an eight-year hiatus.<\/p>\n

The ambassador said the JEC discussions focused on expanding cooperation in the rice sector, including a proposed government-to-government memorandum of understanding for multi-year rice procurement, as well as cooperation in the halal sector.<\/p>\n

\"\"She said rice exports from Pakistan to the Philippines had increased significantly, registering around 700 percent growth during the past year, and Pakistan was seeking greater access and a larger import quota in the Philippine market.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are trying to get the quota for rice in the Philippine market to create more export space for Pakistan in the ASEAN region,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Dr. Asima said annual bilateral trade had now reached around $200 million, but remained well below the two countries\u2019 actual potential.<\/p>\n

She identified pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, agriculture and food products, textiles, banking and financial services, information technology, digital economy and tourism as key areas offering significant opportunities for enhanced cooperation.<\/p>\n

The ambassador said Pakistan\u2019s surgical instruments, particularly products manufactured in Sialkot, were also making increasing inroads into the Philippine market, reflecting the growing competitiveness of Pakistani businesses.<\/p>\n

She emphasized that greater cooperation between the private sectors of both countries could help identify new business opportunities and establish stronger commercial linkages.
\n\u201cBanking, digital economy and information technology have some of the biggest potential areas where Pakistani and Philippine businesses can connect and expand cooperation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Dr. Asima also highlighted opportunities in agriculture, food processing and value addition, saying that exchange of technology, expertise and best practices could improve productivity while creating new avenues for bilateral trade.<\/p>\n

She said Pakistan possessed considerable export potential in pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, textiles, agricultural and food products, while the Philippines, with its large and dynamic market, could provide Pakistani businesses greater access to Southeast Asian markets.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The ambassador said cooperation in IT and digital services could help businesses from both countries connect with emerging global supply chains and expand their access to international markets.<\/p>\n

She also underlined the importance of tourism and people-to-people contacts in strengthening bilateral relations.<\/p>\n

Dr. Asima stressed the need to facilitate visa procedures to promote business, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, particularly as an increasing number of Pakistani business delegations were visiting the Philippines.<\/p>\n

She said Pakistan had already taken steps to facilitate Philippine visitors by introducing visa-free, cost-free entry arrangements for Philippine citizens, and expressed the hope that the Philippines would also facilitate Pakistani travellers.<\/p>\n

Pakistan ASEAN Together in Peace , Prosperity, Security | Full Dialogue Partner Status Pending even after 33 Years of Cooperation<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n