Overview

• A joint statement signed in Islamabad at the Pakistan–Vietnam Business Forum formally opened Preferential Trade Agreement negotiations.
• Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Vietnam’s Industry and Trade Minister Nguyen Hong Dien co-chaired the forum and outlined next steps for the talks.
• Officials said the PTA framework seeks tariff cuts and relief from non-tariff barriers to boost competitiveness and diversify exports.
• Priority collaboration areas include textiles, leather, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food processing, fisheries, construction materials, and information technology.
• Both sides discussed direct flights and easier visas to support trade and tourism, invited Vietnamese investment in Pakistan’s SEZs, and flagged the FoodAg exhibition in Karachi in November 2025.