European firms have shown strong interest in growing their presence in Pakistan, with top executives telling Shehbaz Sharif that the country offers “enormous potential” for expansion across major sectors.
This follows a meeting at the Prime Minister’s House on Tuesday, where a delegation of senior European Union officials and representatives from leading European businesses called on the prime minister, according to an official statement.
The delegation was led by Peteris Ustubs, Director for Asia Pacific at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships. It included Thourya Triki, along with executives such as Manuel Pauser of Adidas, Karl Shloegelbauer of Andritz, and Dieter Metkke of IKEA.
The group is in Pakistan to participate in the EU-Pakistan Business Forum. Raimundas Karoblis also attended the meeting.
Welcoming the delegation, the prime minister thanked them for joining the forum and noted that the EU remains Pakistan’s largest trading partner and the top destination for its exports.
Expressing support for the forum, he said it would help boost trade and investment ties between Pakistan and the EU. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to facilitating stronger economic cooperation and improving the investment climate.
Sharif also reiterated his administration’s determination to stabilise the economy despite regional pressures, including rising oil prices linked to developments in the Middle East. He referenced his recent conversations with Antonio Costa, during which they discussed regional security and ways to deepen bilateral relations.
The EU delegation commended the government’s cooperation in organising the business forum and acknowledged the prime minister’s role in regional peace efforts.
Delegation members shared their experiences investing in Pakistan and highlighted opportunities for growth in sectors such as energy, communications, and IT, emphasizing “enormous potential” for expanding business-to-business ties.
More than 600 B2B meetings are expected to take place alongside the EU-Pakistan Business Forum.
Senior Pakistani officials present at the meeting included Ishaq Dar, Jam Kamal Khan, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Tauqir Shah, Bilal Azhar Kayani, Syed Tariq Fatemi, and Haroon Akhtar Khan, along with other senior government representatives.
