PNN – Several high-ranking Pakistani officials, in a meeting with the Rwandan Foreign Minister, who is on his first official visit to Islamabad, emphasized the development of bilateral relations in various fields.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, Pakistan and Rwanda pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various areas including trade, defense, technology and diplomacy, as well as to build a mutually beneficial partnership and exploit the potential for growth in relations. Bilateral relations were discussed during a detailed meeting and talks between Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar and Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Olivier Jean-Patrick Ndangarhi on Monday. The Rwandan Foreign Minister arrived in Islamabad on Monday for a two-day official visit.
According to the Daily Times, after signing a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with his Rwandan counterpart, the Pakistani Foreign Minister said that Pakistan attaches great importance to relations with Rwanda. He said Pakistan is a good market for Rwandan products and is among the largest importers of tea from Rwanda and is actively seeking to increase imports of other products including coffee, avocado, pulses and greenhouse products from Rwanda. Ishaq Dar added that Pakistani export products such as medicines and medical supplies, textiles, rice and sports goods have good potential to enter the Rwandan market.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan also pointed out the great potential for cooperation between the two countries in the ICT sector, emphasizing that Islamabad is eager to cooperate and partner with Kigali in the fields of digital transformation, e-government, and innovation platforms for youth. He stressed that Pakistan is eager to continue interacting and cooperating with Rwandan companies, including through participation in the “Pakistan-Africa Business Development Conference and Exhibition” in Addis Ababa (the capital of Ethiopia) in May this year.
The Rwandan Foreign Minister also met with Pakistani Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan on Monday. The two sides discussed bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, tourism, and industrial development. Pakistan’s “Nation” newspaper reported in this regard: These meetings reflect Pakistan’s growing interest in African markets and Islamabad’s determination to develop meaningful economic partnerships across the African continent.
Pakistan’s efforts to attract African tourists
During his meeting with the Rwandan Foreign Minister, Jam Kamal Khan emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening relations with Rwanda and noted that there is great potential for cooperation in important sectors such as agriculture, services, automotive manufacturing (including bicycles, motorcycles, and agricultural machinery), tourism, sports, and education.
During the meeting, the Rwandan Foreign Minister also expressed his country’s interest in developing economic cooperation with Pakistan, while appreciating Pakistan’s determination to develop relations with African countries.
Pakistan’s state minister stresses bridging trade gap with Africa
Chaudhry Shafi Hussain, Minister for Industries and Commerce of the Pakistani province of Punjab, also said on Sunday that Pakistan must increase its trade volume and in this regard, it is necessary to close the trade gap with African countries.
Shafi Hussain, speaking at a gathering of representatives from the Pakistani business community and African countries hosted by the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the province of Punjab offers special incentives to foreign investors in special economic zones and that the province welcomes investment from African countries. Referring to the establishment of new centers to strengthen the textile sector in Punjab province, he emphasized that Pakistan and African countries can cooperate in the textile sector.