Pakistan’s business community is advocating for stronger trade relations with Somalia following high-level discussions held in Islamabad between the United Business Group (UBG) and Somali Ambassador Sheikh Noor Muhammad Hassan.
The meeting, led by Zafar Bakhtawari, Secretary General of UBG, focused on enhancing trade and cultural cooperation between the two nations.
Key participants included Waqar Bakhtawari, former president of the Chakwal Chamber of Commerce, Roohail Anwar Butt from the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce, and Yasin Mohamud Mire, Deputy Head of Somalia’s Mission in Pakistan.
Ambassador Hassan highlighted Somalia’s improved security landscape and its strategic maritime position, emphasizing the opportunities it offers for maritime trade. He extended an invitation for Bakhtawari to lead a trade delegation to Somalia to explore potential partnerships and investments.
In response, Bakhtawari acknowledged Somalia’s abundant natural resources and emphasized the growing demand for Pakistani products in the Somali market, positioning it as a key avenue for economic collaboration.
Additionally, Pakistan reaffirmed its support for the Ankara Declaration, a Turkish-mediated initiative aimed at addressing tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia over the Somaliland region.
