Islamabad:Pakistan and the Netherlands on Monday explored new avenue of expanding bilateral trade, investment and business partnerships in textiles, information technology, agriculture, food processing, engineering and skilled workforce development.
The discussions took place at a business dinner hosted by Federal Secretary for Commerce Jawad Paul in honour of a visiting Dutch business delegation led by Merlin Melles, comprised prominent Dutch entrepreneurs, investors and business executives from various sectors of the Netherlands’ economy, said a news release.
Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Pakistan Robert-Jan Siegert, Special Secretary Commerce Syed Hamid Ali, senior officials of the Ministry of Commerce and representatives of the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) also attended the event.
Welcoming the delegation, Jawad Paul underscored the importance of direct business-to-business engagement and identifying commercially viable opportunities to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.
The discussions focused on Pakistan’s manufacturing capabilities, expanding technology sector, skilled human resources and opportunities for Dutch businesses to establish commercial partnerships and explore investment in export-oriented industries.
A Ministry of Commerce presentation highlighted Pakistan’s trade relations with the European Union, the benefits of the EU’s GSP Plus arrangement and opportunities to diversify exports beyond traditional products. It also showcased the country’s textile industry, agricultural potential, sports goods manufacturing and investment opportunities in food processing, value addition and export-oriented manufacturing.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Robert-Jan Siegert described the Netherlands as Pakistan’s second-largest export market within the European Union, with bilateral trade reaching approximately US$1.9 billion.
He noted that bilateral trade was largely driven by Pakistani exports to the Netherlands, while stressing the need to expand Dutch exports, investments and commercial activities in Pakistan.
The Ambassador welcomed growing interest among Dutch businesses in Pakistan, citing emerging joint ventures, research partnerships and innovative agricultural projects.He also appreciated the privately organised business mission as a sign of increasing private-sector interest in bilateral economic cooperation.
Delegation leader Merlin Melles and other business representative shared their experiences of visiting Pakistani companies and manufacturing facilities, including Systems Limited and major textile and industrial enterprises in Karachi. They appreciated Pakistan’s industrial capabilities, professional expertise and hospitality, while expressed in exploring partnerships with Pakistani companies.
The participants identified potential cooperation in software development, remote professional services, engineering, specialised staffing and skilled human resources, particularly the potential for Pakistani professionals to serve European companies through technology-enabled business arrangements.
Discussions also highlighted Pakistan’s opportunities in agricultural processing, dairy, sustainable technologies and value-added manufacturing, where Dutch technological expertise and Pakistani production capacity could complement each other.
The interaction provided an opportunity for representatives of the Pakistan Software Export Board to engage with Dutch entrepreneurs interested in software development, digital services and technology-based collaboration.
Both sides acknowledged the importance of maintaining regular engagement between business communities and translating commercial interest into practical partnerships, joint ventures and investment opportunities.
The visiting delegation included Arjan Hoop, Chilot van Slooten, Dick Tool, Lonneke Timmermans, Martijn Koolhoven, Martijn van der Harst, Remt Melles, Joep Verbunt, Eugène Soffers, Guido Ide, Sandra Soffers, Marloes Massier, Berny Plas, Amir Alam and Maryam Hasan, along with delegation leader Merlin Melles.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on continued dialogue, stronger private-sector linkages and exploring new avenues for mutually beneficial trade and investment cooperation between Pakistan and the Netherlands.