ComMin holds high-level meetings in Doha to boost Trade and Investment
DOHA (News Desk): Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan held a series of high-level meetings in Doha on the sidelines of the World Investment Forum 2026 to strengthen trade, investment and economic cooperation with Qatar and D-8 member countries.
During engagements held on October 25 and 26, the Commerce Minister met with the Secretary-General of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, Qatar’s Minister of Municipality, the Chairman of Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industries and representatives of Retaj Group.
The meetings focused on expanding bilateral and multilateral trade, strengthening private-sector linkages and promoting investment in agriculture, food security, industrial development, hospitality and tourism, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement.
Pakistan Reaffirms Support for D-8 $500 Billion Trade Goal
In a meeting with the D-8 Secretary-General on October 25, Jam Kamal Khan discussed measures to strengthen economic integration and accelerate trade among member countries.
The D-8 Secretary-General appreciated Pakistan’s continued support for the organisation and highlighted the importance of implementing the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement following its ratification by Egypt.
Both sides stressed the need to translate existing economic cooperation frameworks into practical commercial opportunities through greater private-sector participation, improved market access and stronger trade linkages.
The discussions also focused on advancing the D-8 organisation’s ambitious target of achieving $500 billion in intra-member trade by 2030.
Jam Kamal Khan reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening cooperation within the D-8 framework and supporting initiatives aimed at facilitating trade, encouraging investment and promoting sustainable economic growth among member economies.
Cooperation in Agriculture and Food Security
In a separate bilateral meeting on October 26, the Minister met with Qatar’s Minister of Municipality to discuss expanding cooperation in agriculture, food security and bilateral trade.
Both sides exchanged views on opportunities to strengthen commercial relations and promote greater institutional and business-level engagement in agricultural development and food supply chains.
The discussions highlighted the potential for closer collaboration between government institutions and private-sector stakeholders to identify practical areas of cooperation and facilitate mutually beneficial partnerships.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of Pakistan and Qatar to further strengthening their longstanding bilateral relations through enhanced economic engagement.
Invitation to Qatari Investors for SEZs
In another key engagement, Jam Kamal Khan met with the Chairman of Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industries to explore new avenues for bilateral trade and investment.
The Minister encouraged the Qatari business community to expand business-to-business interactions with Pakistani counterparts and develop stronger people-to-people connections to translate the longstanding friendship into tangible economic opportunities.
Highlighting Pakistan’s investment potential, he invited Qatari investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones, particularly in the Karachi industrial area, where export-oriented manufacturing and industrial partnerships could provide access to domestic and international markets.
He also highlighted Pakistan’s strategic geographical position and the potential for investors to access wider regional markets, including Africa, through improved trade connectivity and supply-chain networks.
During the discussions, the Chairman of Qatar Chamber highlighted changing global supply-chain dynamics and expressed interest in proposed regional transit routes and connectivity initiatives.
Both sides recognised that improved logistics infrastructure, diversified supply chains and stronger regional transport connections could play a significant role in facilitating trade, reducing barriers and opening new markets for businesses in both countries.
The meeting underscored the importance of sustained engagement between chambers of commerce, investors and business communities to identify commercially viable projects.
Hospitality Investment on Agenda
As part of his private sector engagements, the Commerce Minister also met with representatives of Retaj Group to discuss potential cooperation in hospitality and tourism.
Retaj Group expressed interest in exploring joint ventures with Pakistani business partners and examining opportunities to expand its hospitality brands into Pakistan and other brotherly Islamic countries.
The discussions focused on potential investment partnerships, hospitality-sector development and opportunities for greater collaboration between businesses of the two countries.
Both sides recognised the potential of hospitality and tourism cooperation to encourage private investment, create new commercial opportunities and strengthen economic relations.
The Ministry said the series of meetings reflected Pakistan’s continued efforts to diversify its international economic partnerships, attract foreign investment and strengthen its position in regional and global trade networks.
The engagements highlighted the growing importance of private-sector cooperation, regional connectivity, agricultural development, food security, industrial investment and hospitality in expanding Pakistan’s economic relations.
Jam Kamal Khan reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining close engagement with international institutions, government counterparts and business communities to translate economic dialogue into practical trade and investment opportunities.
The meetings concluded with a shared understanding of the importance of continued institutional coordination, stronger business linkages and mutually beneficial partnerships to advance economic cooperation and sustainable growth.