Islamabad, October 7,2026: Pakistan and Germany on Tuesday discussed measures to expand bilateral trade, investment and business-to-business cooperation, with Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan inviting German companies to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan and participate in the upcoming FoodAg 2026 exhibition in Karachi.
The discussions took place during a meeting between Jam Kamal and German Ambassador to Pakistan Ina Lepel at the Ministry of Commerce. Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Industries Rana Ihsan Afzal, Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul and senior officials also attended.
Jam Kamal appreciated Germany’s longstanding economic cooperation with Pakistan and its constructive role regarding the European Union’s GSP Plus scheme. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to meeting its international obligations and strengthening coordination between federal ministries and provincial governments.
Ambassador Lepel acknowledged Pakistan’s legislative progress and developments in areas relevant to GSP Plus, while stressing the importance of translating legislative measures into effective implementation, measurable outcomes and tangible improvements for citizens.
She welcomed Pakistan’s structured approach towards its next GSP Plus application and called for continued coordination among federal and provincial authorities and other stakeholders. She said sustained engagement, transparent reporting and timely follow-up would help maintain confidence among Pakistan’s international partners.
The ambassador also identified potential opportunities for cooperation in agriculture, food processing, technology, manufacturing and renewable energy, and called for stronger interaction between the private sectors of the two countries.
During the meeting, Rana Ihsan Afzal raised Pakistan’s concerns regarding the Geographical Indication (GI) status of Basmati rice. He briefed the ambassador on Pakistan’s position concerning India’s GI application before the European Commission and Pakistan’s own application for protection of Basmati rice.
He highlighted the legal, historical and commercial grounds of Pakistan’s position and stressed the importance of protecting the interests of Pakistani Basmati growers, producers and exporters.
Ambassador Lepel underscored the importance of appropriate legal and institutional mechanisms to protect farmers, producers and exporters. She said effective protection of geographical indications could strengthen international market recognition, support rural livelihoods and increase the value of agricultural exports.
Jam Kamal invited the German ambassador and German companies to participate in FoodAg 2026, scheduled to be held in Karachi in November.
The minister highlighted opportunities for cooperation and investment in agricultural machinery, food processing, livestock breeding, animal nutrition, testing facilities and value addition.
He said collaboration with German companies could help Pakistan improve agricultural productivity, quality and export standards and generate greater exportable surpluses.
The minister said FoodAg would provide a platform for German businesses to engage directly with Pakistani companies, explore investment opportunities and develop partnerships across agriculture and food value chains.
Ambassador Lepel welcomed the invitation, saying German participation could help translate bilateral engagement into practical business and institutional cooperation. She highlighted potential collaboration in modern agricultural technology, quality assurance, vocational training, research and development, and sustainable production.
The German side also briefed the Pakistani delegation on preparations for a delegation of Pakistani businesspeople to attend a major animal husbandry trade fair in Germany. Lepel said such exchanges could facilitate knowledge transfer, strengthen commercial ties and identify opportunities in livestock and related sectors.
The ambassador also invited Jam Kamal to attend the 19th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business, scheduled for October 29-31 in Seoul, South Korea.
The conference will bring together government and business leaders to discuss trade, investment, economic partnerships and resilient supply chains.
Jam Kamal welcomed the invitation and expressed interest in exploring Pakistan’s participation.
