Islamabad, October 14, 2025 — Pakistan and Vietnam on Tuesday officially launched negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), marking a new era of economic partnership and regional cooperation between the two nations.
The agreement aims to strengthen trade, investment, and long-term economic ties while expanding opportunities for both countries.
The announcement and signing took place during a high-level bilateral meeting and the Pakistan–Vietnam Business Forum held in Islamabad, co-chaired by Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Vietnam’s Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Diên. The event gathered senior government officials, diplomats, and leading business representatives from both countries.
In his address, Minister Jam Kamal highlighted that Pakistan and Vietnam have enjoyed decades of cordial relations based on mutual trust, political understanding, and people-to-people connections. He emphasized that the PTA negotiations reflect a shared vision to transform this friendship into a dynamic economic partnership focused on sustainable growth and regional trade integration.
While bilateral trade has grown in recent years, it still remains below its true potential. The PTA is expected to create a framework for enhanced market access, removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers, and diversification of export products. Key sectors identified for collaboration include textiles, leather, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, fisheries, construction materials, and information technology.
Nguyen Hong Diên noted that the PTA would help diversify export markets and strengthen resilience against global economic challenges. He praised Pakistan’s efforts to promote industrial cooperation and invited business leaders from both sides to engage in long-term ventures and joint manufacturing projects.
Both countries also agreed to enhance connectivity, including the establishment of direct flight routes between Pakistan and Vietnam, improved visa facilitation, and greater cultural exchanges to boost trade, tourism, and investment.
Minister Jam Kamal encouraged Vietnamese investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs), highlighting Pakistan’s young and skilled workforce, strategic location, and competitive investment climate. He also acknowledged Vietnam’s remarkable economic transformation and expressed Pakistan’s interest in learning from its success in industrial modernization and value-added exports.
The event concluded with the signing of a Joint Statement on the official launch of PTA negotiations between Pakistan and Vietnam, symbolizing a strong commitment to build a future-oriented, balanced, and mutually beneficial partnership.