Islamabad – April 21, 2025: Natalie A. Baker, Acting U.S. Ambassador and Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, held a strategic trade meeting with Mr. Mazhar Hussain Thathal, Chairman and CEO of the Global Trade Expo Centre Pakistan (GTEC), to discuss strengthening trade relations and fostering partnerships between small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from Pakistan and the United States.
The meeting was also attended by a delegation of Pakistani SMEs and U.S. Embassy Economic Officers. The dialogue centered on expanding bilateral cooperation in the SME sector, encouraging joint ventures, and promoting inclusive trade initiatives—particularly those supporting women entrepreneurs and small-scale industries in Pakistan.
Mr. Liaqat Thathal, GTEC’s Director of International Trade and Relationship Development, highlighted GTEC’s vision of connecting business communities across borders. “We are committed to bridging the gap between Pakistani and American SMEs. Our future initiatives aim to open new doors for entrepreneurs—especially women—and strengthen industrial collaboration between our two countries,” he stated.
A major announcement from the meeting was the upcoming participation of a Pakistani SMEs delegation in the Pakistan-USA SMEs Trade & Business Delegation 2025, which will attend the International Franchise Expo 2025 in New York. Organized by GTEC, the delegation will showcase SMEs from various sectors including surgical instruments, healthcare, textiles, IT, food, and beauty products.
The initiative is expected to strengthen cross-border commercial ties and create new opportunities for export growth and collaborative innovation between Pakistan and the United States.
