Islamabad, July 14, 2026: Pakistan and Spain on Tuesday agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in agriculture, food security, trade and investment, with both sides expressing interest in institutionalising collaboration through a joint working group on agriculture.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and Spanish Ambassador to Pakistan Carlos Aragonés Gil de la Serna in Islamabad.
Held in a cordial atmosphere, the meeting reflected the longstanding friendly relations between the two countries, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to expanding cooperation in the agricultural sector and exploring new avenues for bilateral trade and investment.
The Spanish ambassador congratulated Pakistan on becoming a full member of the International Olive Council (IOC) and appreciated the country’s growing role in the global olive industry. Rana Tanveer thanked the Government of Spain, particularly the Spanish Minister of Agriculture, for supporting Pakistan’s successful bid for full IOC membership, saying the assistance had further strengthened bilateral ties.
The ambassador also praised the contributions of nearly 150,000 Pakistanis residing in Spain, noting that they play a significant role in promoting trade and economic relations between the two countries. He added that Pakistan currently enjoys a trade surplus with Spain, with textile products remaining among its leading exports to the Spanish market.
During the meeting, Rana Tanveer emphasized the need to enhance cooperation in modern agricultural technologies to improve productivity and strengthen Pakistan’s resilience to climate change.
He highlighted Spain’s expertise in precision farming, advanced irrigation systems, olive cultivation, greenhouse farming, agricultural machinery and efficient water management, inviting Spanish companies and institutions to collaborate with Pakistan in technology transfer, joint research and capacity-building initiatives.
The minister said adopting modern agricultural technologies would help modernise Pakistan’s agriculture sector by increasing per-acre productivity, improving product quality, ensuring efficient water use, strengthening food security and enhancing the global competitiveness of Pakistani agricultural products.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to innovation-driven partnerships, Rana Tanveer proposed the establishment of a Pakistan-Spain Joint Working Group on Agriculture to promote cooperation in agricultural research, technology transfer, investment, food security and agricultural trade. The Spanish side welcomed the proposal and expressed readiness for its early establishment.
Highlighting Pakistan’s agricultural potential, the minister also invited Spain to expand bilateral agricultural trade, saying Pakistan is prepared to increase exports of rice, ethanol, potatoes and maize to the Spanish market.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations, expanding agricultural cooperation, promoting trade and maintaining close coordination at regional and international forums.
