Prominent Rwandan businessman and business community leader Saeed Alam has called for stronger economic and trade relations between Pakistan and Rwanda, stressing the need for greater private-sector engagement, investment partnerships and business-to-business interaction to unlock the vast potential of bilateral economic cooperation.
Saeed Alam hosts dinner for Pakistan’s business delegation in Rwanda, calls for stronger Pakistan–Rwanda economic ties
By Shams Abbasi
ISLAMABAD, Sep 27 (APP): Prominent Rwandan businessman and business community leader Saeed Alam has called for stronger economic and trade relations between Pakistan and Rwanda, stressing the need for greater private-sector engagement, investment partnerships and business-to-business interaction to unlock the vast potential of bilateral economic cooperation.
He was speaking at a dinner hosted by him in honour of a visiting Pakistani business delegation and members of the Pakistan Africa Economic Council (PAEC) in Rwanda.
Welcoming the Pakistani delegation, Saeed Alam said bilateral trade between Pakistan and Rwanda remained below its potential and emphasized that both countries needed to work together to significantly expand trade, investment and commercial cooperation.
He said Rwanda offered considerable opportunities for investors and businesses and that the private sectors of Pakistan and Rwanda could jointly explore emerging areas of cooperation and develop mutually beneficial business ventures.
Sharing his entrepreneurial journey, Saeed Alam said he started his business career from modest beginnings and subsequently expanded his business activities to the United Kingdom before establishing a major hotel in Rwanda.
He said his experience demonstrated the importance of entrepreneurship, perseverance and exploring opportunities in international markets.
Saeed Alam also emphasized the need to promote entrepreneurship among Pakistan’s younger generation, encouraging young people to develop business skills, pursue innovative ideas and contribute to the country’s economic development.
He said stronger interaction between Pakistani and Rwandan businesses, increased investment partnerships and regular exchange of business delegations could create new avenues for economic cooperation and help take bilateral trade relations to a higher level.
High Commissioner of Pakistan to Rwanda,Muhammad Naeem Khan, Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Africa Economic Council (PAEC) Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan and Chairman PAEC Dr. Shahbaz Malik also addressed the gathering.
High Commissioner of Pakistan to Rwanda , Muhammad Naeem Khan said that when he assumed charge as Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Rwanda, bilateral trade between the two countries stood at around $34 million, but according to the latest figures issued by Rwandan institutions, it had increased to approximately $260 million over the following two years.
He said the positive growth demonstrated the considerable potential for further expansion of economic relations between Pakistan and Rwanda, adding that bilateral trade and commercial engagement were continuing to expand across different sectors.
The High Commissioner said the leadership and relevant institutions of both countries were fully committed to strengthening economic relations.
He emphasized that chambers of commerce had an important role to play in connecting the two economies and facilitating direct interaction between business communities.
Muhammad Naeem Khan said the private sector now needed to come forward with greater determination, promote the exchange of business delegations and initiate pragmatic commercial ventures to further enhance bilateral trade and investment.
Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan said the Pakistan Africa Economic Council was prioritizing the development of a strategy for an East Africa business map aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s economic and trade engagement with the region.
He said East Africa had significant geo-economic importance because of its geographical location, connectivity with neighbouring countries and access to emerging markets.
He emphasized that the region possessed considerable untapped economic potential that needed to be explored and opened up for Pakistani businesses.
Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan said stronger engagement with East African economies could provide Pakistani businesses with new opportunities in trade, investment, services and other sectors, while also helping establish sustainable commercial linkages between the two sides.
Chairman PAEC Dr. Shahbaz Malik highlighted various aspects of strengthening bilateral economic connectivity and said greater economic integration between Pakistan and Rwanda would be essential for achieving sustained growth in bilateral trade.
He stressed the importance of developing practical mechanisms for business cooperation, investment facilitation and private-sector interaction.
During the dinner, participants also discussed potential areas of cooperation, investment opportunities and ways to strengthen business-to-business linkages between Pakistan and Rwanda.
The participants agreed that sustained engagement between the private sectors of the two countries, coupled with institutional support and regular business exchanges, could provide a strong foundation for expanding bilateral trade and investment and further deepening Pakistan-Rwanda economic relations.
