Post by : Meena Ariff

Pakistan has expressed interest in importing jute from Bangladesh following the resumption of the Bangladesh-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting in Dhaka after a two-decade gap.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed said the two-day meeting focused on cooperation in several sectors, including agriculture, information technology, food, aviation, and shipping.

“Pakistan has shown particular interest in expanding bilateral trade, including imports of jute from Bangladesh,” Ahmed said. Both sides also emphasized the importance of reviving regional collaboration under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

During the July–September quarter of the current fiscal year (FY2025-26), Bangladesh’s exports to Pakistan grew 17 percent year-on-year to $18.48 million, compared with $15.74 million in the same period last year. However, Pakistan’s imports of jute and jute yarn declined 36 percent year-on-year to $3.58 million, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau.

The JEC, which serves as the highest-level platform for bilateral economic cooperation, last met in 2005 in Islamabad. The current session aims to enhance trade, reduce non-tariff barriers, and expand collaboration in education, manpower export, and industrial development.

The Bangladesh delegation is led by Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, while Pakistan’s team is headed by Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik.

Officials noted that total annual trade between the two countries remains below $1 billion. In FY2025, Bangladesh imported goods worth $787 million from Pakistan and exported goods worth $80 million.

#Global News