From October 13 to 15, Minister of Trade and Industry Nguyen Hong Dien led a Vietnamese delegation to visit and work in Pakistan. This visit marked a significant milestone in bilateral economic cooperation, as it was the first ministerial-level visit from Vietnam to Pakistan in two decades.

During the trip, Minister Dien held talks with Pakistan’s Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, co-chaired the Vietnam - Pakistan Business Forum and signed a Joint Declaration on the launch of negotiations for a Vietnam - Pakistan Preferential Trade Agreement (VPPTA). He also visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Pakistan and met with local business communities.

At the forum, the MoIT leader highlighted the immense potential for cooperation between the two countries, which together have a population of nearly 360 million and occupy strategic positions connecting Southeast and South Asia. Vietnam, the third-largest economy in ASEAN and the 32nd worldwide, is an attractive destination for foreign direct investment, while Pakistan stands out for its abundant natural resources and strong industries in textiles, leather, pharmaceuticals, and Halal food.

Minister Dien emphasized that the shared aspirations for development and complementary strengths of both nations provide a solid foundation for expanding bilateral investment and trade. To maximize these synergies, he called on businesses from both sides to explore cooperation in sectors such as textiles and footwear, agriculture and Halal food, industry and materials, energy, pharmaceuticals, digital technology, and innovation.

Notably, on the sidelines of the forum, both ministers encouraged enterprises from Vietnam and Pakistan to participate in each other’s trade fairs and promotion programs.

Representing Vietnam, Minister Dien invited Pakistani delegates and business representatives to join the Vietnam Golden Autumn Fair 2025, to be held from October 25 to November 4 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Dong Anh, Hanoi.

Introducing the event, he noted that the Vietnam Golden Autumn Fair 2025 serves as a key platform connecting Vietnamese enterprises with international importers, distributors, and investors. So far, 170 international enterprises and organizations, along with over 300 foreign buyers, have registered to attend, while around 3,000 applications have been submitted by Vietnamese companies.

According to Minister Dien, participation in the Vietnam Golden Autumn Fair 2025 will allow Pakistani enterprises to gain an in-depth understanding of the Vietnamese market and consumer preferences, as well as to establish business links not only with Vietnamese partners but also with other international participants.

“The Government of Vietnam is committed to creating the most favorable conditions under the law to support Pakistani investors in achieving sustainable and effective business operations in Vietnam, and we also hope to receive reciprocal support for Vietnamese enterprises in Pakistan,” Minister Nguyen Hong Dien affirmed.

Echoing his counterpart, Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan urged the private sectors of both nations to regard each other as long-term collaborators rather than short-term trading partners. He underscored Pakistan’s strategic location, favorable business environment, and skilled young workforce as key advantages, inviting Vietnamese investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) for joint ventures and re-export production.

Both sides agreed to strengthen connectivity, including the establishment of direct flights between Pakistan and Vietnam to boost trade, tourism, and business exchanges. They also discussed facilitating visa procedures for citizens of both countries to promote greater mobility among entrepreneurs and travelers.

Highlighting the shared cultural and spiritual heritage, Minister Jam Kamal Khan spoke of Pakistan’s potential for religious and cultural tourism, especially related to the ancient Gandhara and Taxila civilizations, home to some of the world’s most sacred Buddhist relics. Minister Nguyen Hong Dien acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts in promoting Buddhist tourism, calling pilgrimages to these sites “journeys to the spiritual origins of the Buddhist faith.”

Referring to Vietnam’s remarkable economic transformation, Minister Jam Kamal Khan said Pakistan seeks to learn from Vietnam’s achievements in value-added manufacturing, industrial modernization, and trade facilitation, applying these lessons to broaden its own export base.

He also invited Vietnamese businesses to participate in the upcoming FoodAg Exhibition, scheduled for November 2025 in Karachi, which will showcase Pakistan’s growing potential in agriculture, food processing, and related industries.

The two ministers reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, while expressing solidarity with those affected by the recent floods in Vietnam. 

At the Vietnam - Pakistan Business Forum, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien and Pakistan’s Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, officially signed a Joint Declaration to launch negotiations for the Vietnam - Pakistan Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), marking a milestone in bilateral economic and trade cooperation. The two ministers tasked relevant agencies to commence negotiations immediately, aiming to complete the talks and sign the agreement as soon as possible, ideally within 2025.