Business Recorder
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reassured the European Union (EU) of Pakistan’s commitment to economic stability, despite regional uncertainties, including the recent surge in oil prices caused by tensions in the Middle East. Speaking with a delegation of European Union officials and senior executives from major European companies who called on him, PM Sharif emphasised Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment ties with the EU. The delegation, led by Peteris Ustubs, Director for Asia Pacific at the European Commission’s Directorate-General of International Partnerships, is in Pakistan to attend the EU-Pakistan Business Forum, an event designed to promote bilateral commercial engagement. READ MORE: Islamabad set to host first-ever EU-Pakistan Business Forum The prime minister praised the forum’s role in fostering economic co-operation, expressing hope that it would encourage deeper trade and investment links between Pakistan and European nations. “We value the EU’s engagement and look forward to the opportunities that this forum can create,” he said, emphasising the need for private sector partnerships in driving economic growth. During the meeting, the prime minister recalled his recent telephone conversations with European Council President Antonio Costa, noting that the discussions had focused on regional security developments and strategies to further strengthen Pakistan-EU relations. He reassured the delegation that his government would continue to make concerted efforts to facilitate the growth of bilateral trade and investment. PM Sharif also highlighted the EU’s central role in Pakistan’s economy, describing the Union as the country’s largest trading partner and the primary destination for its exports. He expressed appreciation for the participation of European business leaders in the forum, calling their engagement an important signal of confidence in Pakistan’s market potential. The European delegation included Thourya Triki of the European Investment Bank and senior executives from top companies such as Adidas, Andritz, and IKEA. Manuel Pauser, vice president of Adidas, Karl Shloegelbauer, vice president of Andritz; and Dieter Metkke, regional director of IKEA, shared their experiences investing in Pakistan, emphasising the potential for further expansion across multiple sectors, including energy, communications, and information technology. The forum is expected to facilitate more than 600 business-to-business meetings on its sidelines. While commending the Prime Minister Sharif’s leading role in regional peace efforts, the EU delegation expressed sincere appreciation to the government for its full co-operation in hosting the EU-Pakistan Business Forum. “The forum demonstrates Pakistan’s openness to investment and its commitment to strengthening ties with the EU,” the delegation noted during the meeting. The EU Ambassador to Pakistan, Raimundas Karoblis, joined the discussions, reflecting the high-level diplomatic engagement accompanying the business forum. On the Pakistani side, the meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, State Minister for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Advisor to the Prime Minister Tauqir Shah, and the special assistant to the prime minister on industries Haroon Akhtar, and other senior officials. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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