FPCCI Proposes Digital B2B Portal to Boost Pakistan-ASEAN Business Ties
KARACHI (Staff Report): The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has proposed establishing a dedicated digital business-to-business (B2B) portal to enhance trade connectivity between Pakistan and ASEAN countries.
The proposal was presented during the Pakistan-ASEAN Business Roundtable held at FPCCI, which was attended by ambassadors and consul generals of various ASEAN countries.
FPCCI Senior Vice President Saquib Fayyaz Magoon emphasized the need to strengthen Pakistan-ASEAN trade relations and said that a digital B2B portal would help businesses from both sides to directly connect, explore opportunities and finalize deals.
“A digital B2B portal should be established for business linkages between Pakistan and ASEAN,” he said.
Magoon noted that bilateral trade between Pakistan and ASEAN countries stands at around 11 to 12 billion dollars, but Pakistan’s exports to ASEAN are less than 1.5 billion dollars, indicating huge untapped potential.
He said Pakistan and ASEAN can enhance cooperation in key sectors including IT, textile, agriculture and halal industry.
“Cooperation can be increased in IT, textile, agriculture and halal industry. Pakistan and ASEAN countries can increase joint cooperation in halal economy,” he added.
He highlighted that Pakistan can become a gateway for ASEAN countries to access Central Asia, the Middle East and Western China, due to its strategic location.
“Pakistan can become a source of access to Central Asia, Middle East and Western China for ASEAN countries. There are vast investment opportunities for foreign investors in Pakistan,” Magoon said.
The FPCCI SVP said that Pakistan’s strategic location, coupled with investment incentives and special economic zones, offers lucrative opportunities for ASEAN investors.
The ASEAN envoys present at the roundtable acknowledged the potential for enhanced trade and agreed on the need for more frequent business-to-business interactions.
The proposed digital portal is expected to provide a platform for listing products, investment projects, trade inquiries and business profiles, making it easier for SMEs from both sides to connect without relying solely on physical trade fairs.
Business leaders said that such a portal, if jointly developed by FPCCI and ASEAN trade bodies, could help reduce the trade imbalance and increase Pakistan’s exports to the ASEAN region, which is one of the fastest growing economic blocs in the world.