Commerce Desk
Islamabad: Federal Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan has called for faster regulatory approvals for Pakistani pharmaceutical companies seeking access to the Ethiopian market. He made the call during a meeting in Islamabad with Ethiopian Ambassador Dr. Oumer Hussein Oba, where the two sides discussed expanding trade, investment and economic cooperation.
The minister said timely approvals and transparent procedures are essential to building exporters’ confidence. He stressed coordination among regulators, diplomatic missions and trade officials, along with stronger business-to-business ties and the removal of trade barriers.
The ambassador said he had raised the pending registration issues with Ethiopian health authorities and received positive assurances of early resolution. Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul urged speeding up a proposed visit by an Ethiopian technical team to inspect and evaluate Pakistani pharmaceutical firms.
The meeting also reviewed Ethiopia’s WTO accession process, with the minister stressing reciprocal market access and confidence-building measures. He described Ethiopia as a potential gateway to East African markets, citing opportunities in pharmaceuticals, food products and banking.
Both sides discussed progress on a proposed visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders, and committed to expediting pending matters and turning engagement into tangible trade and investment.
