In an effort to strengthen Viet Nam-Pakistan bilateral economic and trade ties, Vietnamese Ambassador to Pakistan, Pham Anh Tuan, has held a working session with Ushman Shaukat, President of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI).
During the meeting, Ushman Shaukat provided an overview of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s operations and its role. He highlighted that, with over 13,000 members and a wide range of activities, RCCI is Pakistan’s third-largest chamber of commerce, following only Karachi and Lahore, serving as a vital bridge for Pakistan’s international trade activities.
Expressing his admiration for Viet Nam’s dynamic economic growth, particularly in pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, biotechnology, and healthcare supplies, Ushman Shaukat noted that businesses under RCCI have been present in the Vietnamese market since 2005, collaborating with local partners. Currently, monthly pharmaceutical shipments are exported to Ho Chi Minh City and Ha Noi.
In particular, the President of RCCI highly valued the standards maintained by VDA and expressed his desire to strengthen cooperation between the two countries’ management agencies in this field.
During the meeting, Ambassador Pham Anh Tuan shared updates on the outcomes of the recent official visit to Viet Nam by Minister of Commerce of Pakistan, Kamal Khan, from July 9 to 13, as well as the results of the 5th Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting, which included a commitment to negotiate and sign a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) by 2025. The Ambassador also stressed efforts to promote cooperation in food processing, fisheries, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, thereby creating an favourable environment for businesses from both countries.
Ambassador Pham Anh Tuan acknowledged the contributions of both countries’ business communities in fostering bilateral trade and proposed measures to enhance business-to-business connections, including delegations exchange in sectors where RCCI holds strengths, such as pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, livestock, and agricultural products. He stressed the importance of promoting delegations and investors with real potential, avoiding visits that are merely symbolic.
Both sides agreed to coordinate to organise business delegations to visit and work in Viet Nam and Pakistan in the near future. The President also invited the Vietnamese Ambassador to attend the MedHealth Expo, hosted by RCCI at the end of July in Islamabad, with the participation of leading pharmaceutical, medical equipment companies, and hospitals.
