Ambassador-designate visits ICCI, vows to strengthen economic ties with Ukraine
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Ambassador-designate to Ukraine, Maj. Gen. (R) Kanwar Adnan Ahmed Khan, visited the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and held a productive meeting with ICCI President Nasir Mansoor Qureshi and members of the business community to explore avenues for enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Ukraine.
During the interaction, Ambassador Kanwar Adnan emphasized that despite prevailing global challenges, Ukraine still offers significant potential for Pakistani exporters, especially in textiles, pharmaceuticals, information technology, and agriculture. He expressed his firm commitment to act as a bridge between the private sectors of both countries and to facilitate impactful trade partnerships.
The Ambassador-designate appreciated ICCI’s proactive role in advancing Pakistan’s economic diplomacy and assured his full support in removing trade barriers for entrepreneurs. He welcomed proposals for organizing trade delegations, virtual B2B engagements, and establishing institutional linkages between ICCI and Ukrainian chambers of commerce. He also pointed to the construction and medical sectors as promising areas for Pakistani investors, highlighting the vast scope for skilled Pakistani labor in Ukraine.
Welcoming the Ambassador-designate, ICCI President Nasir Mansoor Qureshi stated that while Pakistan and Ukraine enjoy cordial diplomatic ties, the current level of bilateral trade is far below its true potential. He underscored the importance of diversifying trade into non-traditional sectors such as information technology, renewable energy, engineering goods, and higher education services.
President Qureshi proposed fostering joint ventures, knowledge sharing, and technology transfer as key strategies to deepen commercial ties. He assured full cooperation from ICCI in mobilizing the business community to engage with Ukrainian counterparts and invited the Ambassador-designate to facilitate sector-specific roundtables and trade missions.
Former ICCI President Mian Akram Farid shared success stories from the business community and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting national economic growth. Another former ICCI President, Mian Shaukat Masud, termed Ukraine as a “land of opportunities” and urged the business sector to seize these prospects for national benefit.
In his vote of thanks, ICCI Vice President Nasir Mehmood Chaudhry assured the Ambassador-designate of ICCI’s complete support in promoting Pakistan-Ukraine trade relations.
The meeting concluded with a shared resolve to build stronger business-to-business linkages and collaborate for the mutual prosperity of both nations.
Prominent attendees included: Executive Members Malik Mohsin Khalid, Rohail Anwar Butt, and Irfan Chaudhry.
