KARACHI: Pakistan plans to launch new maritime trade corridors to strengthen economic ties with the East African Community (EAC), Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Saturday, describing the move as a strategic push to boost exports and regional connectivity.
The initiative aims to establish direct sea links with EAC member states, which include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Somalia, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The eight-nation bloc has a combined population of over 500 million and a collective GDP of around $345 billion.
“Our goal is to provide Pakistan’s industrialists, exporters and investors with a direct and efficient route to tap into the lucrative East African market,” Chaudhry said in a statement. “This strategic initiative will not only bolster our export potential but will also contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth by opening new avenues for trade and investment.”
He informed the first phase of the plan will involve the launch of a direct shipping line between Karachi Port and Djibouti, a key logistics hub offering access to neighboring markets such as Somalia and Ethiopia. However, he did not specify the exact launch date for the initiative.
The second phase involves the development of Gwadar Port into a long-term export hub focused on African trade.
An inter-ministerial consortium will be established to oversee implementation, coordinating efforts across trade, finance, diplomacy and technology. The government says the goal is to ensure Pakistani businesses are equipped to compete effectively in East Africa, particularly in agriculture, textiles, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing.
“By enhancing trade routes and improving connectivity, Pakistan is positioning itself as a leading player in the expanding East African market,” Chaudhry added.
Pakistan to open new maritime trade corridors to tap East African market — minister
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Pakistan to open new maritime trade corridors to tap East African market — minister
- The East African Community is an eight-nation bloc with a collective GDP of around $345 billion
- The first phase of the plan will see the launch of direct shipping line between Karachi and Djibouti
Pakistan, China to sign multiple MoUs at major agriculture investment conference today
- Hundreds of Chinese and Pakistani firms to attend Islamabad event
- Conference seen as part of expanding CPEC ties into agriculture, trade
KARACHI: Islamabad and Beijing are set to sign multiple memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to boost agricultural investment and cooperation at a major conference taking place in the capital today, Monday, with hundreds of Chinese and Pakistani companies expected to participate.
The conference is being billed by Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research as a platform for deepening bilateral agricultural ties and supporting broader economic engagement between the two countries.
“Multiple memorandums of understanding will be signed at the Pakistan–China Agricultural Conference,” the Ministry of National Food Security said in a statement. “115 Chinese and 165 Pakistani companies will participate.”
The conference reflects a growing emphasis on expanding Pakistan-China economic cooperation beyond the transport and energy foundations of the flagship China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into agriculture, industry and technology.
Under its first phase launched in 2015, CPEC, a core component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, focused primarily on transportation infrastructure, energy generation and connectivity projects linking western China to the Arabian Sea via Pakistan. That phase included motorways, power plants and the development of the Gwadar Port in the country's southwest, aimed at helping Pakistan address chronic power shortages and enhance transport connectivity.
In recent years, both governments have formally moved toward a “CPEC 2.0” phase aimed at diversifying the corridor’s impact into areas such as special economic zones, innovation, digital cooperation and agriculture. Second-phase discussions have highlighted Pakistan’s goal of modernizing its agricultural sector, attracting Chinese technology and investment, and boosting export potential, with high-level talks taking place between planning officials and investors in Beijing.
Agri-sector cooperation has also seen practical collaboration, with joint initiatives examining technology transfer, export protocols and value-chain development, including partnerships in livestock, mechanization and horticulture.
Organizers say the Islamabad conference will bring together government policymakers, private sector investors, industry associations and multinational agribusiness firms from both nations. Discussions will center on investment opportunities, technology adoption, export expansion and building linkages with global buyers within the framework of Pakistan-China economic cooperation.
