Pakistan, Azerbaijan push trade, investment roadmap

Officials in Islamabad and Baku reaffirm commitment to boost bilateral economic and private sector ties

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Azerbaijan have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations, with Islamabad emphasizing private sector participation as a driver of long-term economic cooperation.

The development came during a meeting between Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce, and Azerbaijan’s ambassador at the Office of the Coordinator in Kohsar Block. The discussions focused on implementing the existing trade and economic roadmap while exploring new opportunities to expand people-to-people and business-to-business engagement.

Officials stressed that attracting and safeguarding private sector investment would be central to building sustainable growth, noting that private capital often ensures long-term continuity beyond government initiatives. Both sides also reviewed potential collaboration in the aviation sector, which is emerging as an important area of interest for expanding connectivity and trade links between South Asia and the Caspian region.

The meeting highlighted the importance of institutional and business-level cooperation, with representatives of Pakistan’s Kitchen Cuisine present at the talks. Their participation was seen as a sign of the private sector’s increasing interest in cross-border ventures and in tapping into Azerbaijan’s growing consumer and services market.

Azerbaijan has been expanding its economic partnerships in South Asia in recent years, particularly with energy-importing nations such as Pakistan. Trade between the two countries remains modest compared to Pakistan’s larger partners, but