Despite bilateral trade between Vietnam and Pakistan showing a robust upward trend and being poised to surpass the US$1 billion mark, a significant opportunity gap remains as Pakistani exports currently constitute less than two percent of Vietnam”s total imports, a visiting Vietnamese diplomat revealed.
According to a report today, during a meeting at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the Head of Vietnam’s Trade Mission in Karachi, Ms. Nguyen Thi Diep, expressed optimism about the future of commercial ties. She noted that bilateral commerce has surged dramatically from just US$54 million in 2006 to US$905 million in 2022, with the figure standing at US$850 million in 2024.
Ms. Diep, leading a Vietnamese delegation, informed attendees that her country”s primary exports to Pakistan include black and green tea, black pepper, cashew nuts, fish products, and industrial goods such as synthetic yarn, iron, steel, and machinery. She highlighted that Pakistan is the largest importer of Vietnamese tea, while Vietnamese black pepper holds the number one spot in the Pakistani market.
Conversely, Pakistan’s main exports to the Southeast Asian nation consist of cotton and related products like yarn and denim, alongside leather, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, and Sialkot-made sports goods.
Addressing the untapped potential, Ms. Diep emphasized that many major Pakistani export products enjoy strong demand within the Vietnamese market. To capitalize on this, she proposed that the KCCI organize a high-level business delegation to Vietnam for meetings with leading industry groups and facilitate participation in local trade fairs and exhibitions to deepen commercial engagement.
In response, KCCI President Muhammad Rehan Hanif lauded Vietnam”s economic journey, describing its transformation into a dynamic economy exceeding US$485 billion as an “inspiring example of resilience, discipline, and strategic reforms.” He positioned Vietnam as a model for Pakistan”s own export-led growth ambitions.
Mr. Hanif identified several promising avenues for cooperation, including food technology, agricultural machinery, biotechnology, cold-chain logistics, and IT solutions for agriculture. He stressed that Pakistan”s status as one of the world”s largest Halal food markets offers Vietnamese partners access to a massive global consumer base, particularly in Halal-certified meat and processed foods.
He also underscored Karachi”s strategic importance as a premier port city and a gateway to Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. With regional connectivity expanding through CPEC and the Gwadar Port, he noted emerging opportunities for joint ventures and logistics partnerships that could benefit both nations.
The meeting, attended by senior KCCI officials including Muhammad Raza and Ahsan Arshad Sheikh, concluded with mutual invitations to upcoming trade events. Ms. Diep assured that she would encourage Vietnamese businesses to attend the KCCI’s My Karachi Exhibition, while Mr. Hanif invited the delegation to participate in the event scheduled for February of next year.