Dhaka: Dhaka and Islamabad have agreed to strengthen further cooperation in various sectors like trade, agriculture, IT, food, energy, pharmaceutical, and connectivity as the 9th meeting of the Bangladesh-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC) was held in the capital today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the 9th JEC meeting, first of its kind after two decades, marked a significant step towards strengthening bilateral and regional economic cooperation between the two countries. The meeting took place at the NEC Conference Room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area. The last JEC meeting between the two South Asian nations occurred in 2005, and the revival of the platform after 20 years was described by both sides as a 'remarkable development' in their economic relations.
Bangladesh Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed and the visiting Pakistan Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik led their respective delegations at the meeting. Senior officials of ministries and agencies concerned with trade, commerce, agriculture, information technology, aviation, and maritime affairs attended the gathering.
Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed informed the media that the discussions covered a wide range of issues, including agriculture, trade, commerce, IT, food, aviation, and shipping, all aimed at improving the livelihoods of people in both the countries. He emphasized the importance of resuming the economic dialogue with Pakistan after 20 years and expressed satisfaction with the successful outcome of the meeting.
Dr. Ahmed highlighted that Bangladesh's approach is not confined to bilateral engagement alone and expressed a desire to move towards regional cooperation as well. He mentioned the potential benefits for South Asian countries collaborating in this manner and requested a stronger cooperation framework. Designated focal points will be set up in ministries including Civil Aviation and Maritime Affairs to follow up on the areas discussed.
Responding to a media query about trade targets, Dr. Ahmed stated that no specific goals were set during the meeting and that respective ministries and agencies would follow up on agriculture, research, food processing, and IT-related cooperation.
Pakistan Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik lauded the Bangladesh side for hosting the meeting and steering the process forward after such a long interval. He noted the significance of holding a JEC meeting after 20 years and expressed a desire to build on the positive momentum for mutual benefits.
Malik acknowledged the convergence in various areas attained under the JEC platform and emphasized the plan to make tangible progress for the betterment of people in both countries. He expressed optimism about operationalizing this cooperation and achieving tangible progress on the targets set for both nations.
Addressing the existing trade gap, Malik noted that the current trade volume between Bangladesh and Pakistan is less than one billion dollars despite both nations having large populations and complementary economies. He called for efforts to increase trade volume and support mutual development.
Malik mentioned that Pakistan would continue importing from Bangladesh and explore new areas of cooperation in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, power, and energy, with a focus on expanding beyond jute. Further discussions on energy cooperation were scheduled for later in the day.
Malik also referred to the recent high-level exchange of visits between the two countries, highlighting the ongoing engagement at the highest levels in multilateral forums and expressing hope for continued friendship and cooperation.
Both sides agreed to work towards expanding trade and investment opportunities, operationalizing agreed areas of cooperation, and preparing for the next JEC meeting with measurable progress on identified targets. The Joint Economic Commission (JEC) between Bangladesh and Pakistan is a bilateral forum to enhance cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, agriculture, energy, and technology. The resumption of the JEC in 2025 marks a renewed commitment to building economic and regional linkages.