Pakistan, Rwanda eye wider trade ties

According to The Express Tribune, Pakistan-Africa Economic Council chief Hamid Asghar Khan expects the upcoming Rwanda-Pakistan Business and Investment Forum to be a key vehicle for deeper trade and investment ties. The forum is set for September 23 to 25 and is intended to open fresh investment channels for both countries. His remarks came at a press conference held at Rwanda's embassy before a Pakistani business delegation set off for the country.

Khan said the delegation would examine investment, trade and joint-venture options in the East African nation, and his council fully backed the trip to Kigali. He described the visit as an important step toward widening Pakistan's economic engagement with Rwanda and the wider African region. He added that Rwanda's steady growth had created openings for Pakistani companies to pursue partnerships, investment projects and joint ventures.

He argued that Pakistan should make greater use of fast-growing African economies, and that the Look Africa policy was a positive beginning that still needed sustained political will. He pointed to Rwanda's security, stability, skilled workforce, land, energy access and business-friendly environment, and named pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food processing, IT and manufacturing as promising areas. The delegation will meet Rwandan government institutions, business leaders and investors during its stay.