Pakistan Hosts 23rd SCO Trade Ministers’ Meeting, Pledges Stronger Regional Cooperation

Pakistan, as the Chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government, hosted the 23rd Meeting of Trade Ministers of SCO Member States in Islamabad. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan chaired the meeting, which focused on strengthening economic and trade collaboration across the region. The gathering was preceded by the 47th Meeting of the Commission of Senior Officials (CSO) of SCO Member States on September 10-11, also held in Islamabad.

In his opening remarks, Minister Jam Kamal Khan emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to the SCO’s goals of regional peace and prosperity. He highlighted the importance of cooperation to address global economic challenges and urged member states to forge stronger partnerships for a brighter future.

“Let us seize this opportunity to forge stronger partnerships, enhance regional cooperation, and pave the way for a brighter and more prosperous future for all our peoples”, he added.

The Ministers from SCO countries discussed ways to enhance economic and trade cooperation. The meeting resulted in the adoption of a Ministerial Statement, underscoring the importance of fair trade, innovation, and sustainable development. The statement also called for strengthening the World Trade Organization (WTO)-based multilateral trading system and emphasized collaboration on climate change in line with the UN Sustainable Development Agenda.

Key outcomes included the approval of Pakistan’s proposal for greater cooperation between Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs) of SCO member states, the creation of a database of economic preferences proposed by Kazakhstan, and a Russian initiative to promote the creative economy in the region. These initiatives aim to enhance trade integration, foster innovation, and strengthen regional business ties.

The successful conclusion of the meeting reaffirmed the significance of multilateral cooperation, with Pakistan playing a pivotal role in advancing economic collaboration within the SCO framework.