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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Malaysia on Monday announced a new $200 million halal meat trade quota and pledged to deepen cooperation in the digital economy, agriculture and education as part of a renewed effort to expand economic and strategic ties between the two Muslim nations.

The announcement came during Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s three-day visit to Malaysia, where he held wide-ranging talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Addressing a joint press conference with Sharif, Ibrahim said Kuala Lumpur had already increased rice imports from Pakistan and was now prepared to facilitate beef and meat imports under a new halal trade framework.

Anwar added that the decision followed discussions with Sharif, who had proposed expanding agricultural exports to Malaysia, including up to $200 million worth of meat. He said both governments had also agreed to explore new areas of collaboration in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), innovation, digital industries, and semiconductors, noting Pakistan’s strong early performance in these sectors among Muslim nations and Malaysia’s readiness to build on that potential.

“This quota of exporting meat to Malaysia will be regulated by market price mechanisms and all halal certification required by Malaysian authorities,” Sharif assured Ibrahim as he addressed the joint press conference in Putrajaya. 

“We will make all possible efforts to meet your conditionalities so that this cooperation expands further in the years ahead.”

Ibrahim said Malaysia welcomed Pakistan’s growing role in halal production and would facilitate increased imports of beef and meat products. 

“There is an interest to export beef, meat, into Malaysia. We will facilitate this, of course,” he said.

Beyond agricultural trade, both leaders discussed expanding partnerships in AI, digital innovation, and vocational and technical training, with Sharif calling for joint ventures that combine Malaysian expertise and Pakistani talent. 

The two sides also reaffirmed commitments under the Malaysia-Pakistan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (MPCEPA), which provides preferential access for goods and services.

On global and regional issues, Ibrahim praised Pakistan’s stance on counterterrorism and its support for peace in South Asia, while both leaders backed US President Donald Trump-led efforts for a ceasefire and humanitarian access in Gaza.

Cultural diplomacy also featured in the visit, with Sharif launching the Urdu translation of Ibrahim’s book “SCRIPT,” calling it a bridge between Islamabad and Kuala Lumpur.

Sharif, on his first official visit to Malaysia as prime minister, said Pakistan aimed to learn from Malaysia’s advances in technology, skills development and economic management. 

Bilateral trade between Pakistan and Malaysia currently stands at around $1.4 billion annually, according to official data from both governments. Pakistan exported goods worth about $515 million to Malaysia in 2024, while imports from Malaysia were valued at nearly $960 million, leaving Islamabad with a trade deficit of roughly $445 million, according to the State Bank of Pakistan and the Malaysian external trade statistics.

Malaysia’s exports to Pakistan are dominated by palm oil and other vegetable fats, as well as machinery, rubber products, and organic chemicals, while Pakistan’s main exports to Malaysia include rice, textiles, seafood, and minerals. Officials say there is growing interest in diversifying the trade basket beyond commodities toward IT services, halal certification and higher-value manufactured goods.

The two countries have traded under the Malaysia-Pakistan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (MPCEPA) since 2008, which provides preferential market access for goods and services. 

In October 2024, they signed four new memorandums of understanding to boost cooperation in trade, investment, and industrial collaboration, and later agreed to renegotiate and modernize their bilateral free trade framework to reflect emerging opportunities in digital and sustainable sectors.

ISLAMABAD: More than 50 Pakistani companies are showcasing a diverse range of food and agro products at ANUGA 2025 trade fair in Germany, a Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) official said on Sunday, reflecting Pakistan’s growing potential in the global food market.

ANUGA 2025, touted as the world’s largest trade fair for food and beverage industry, is being held in Cologne from Oct. 4 till Oct. 8, bringing together around 8,000 exhibitors from 110 countries.

The fair is expected to be attended by 140,000 visitors from nearly 200 nations and present an opportunity for manufacturers to market their products to regions around the globe.

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has set up Pakistan Pavilion at the fair that is designed to highlight the country’s rich agricultural heritage, showcasing advancements in food processing and its adherence to global standards.

“The pavilion highlights Pakistan’s diverse offerings, including rice, processed foods, pink salt, fruit juices, and other value-added agro products,” Hina Tahir, a deputy director at TDAP, told Arab News.

Pakistan’s agro and food exports have shown growth in recent years, rising by 1.62 percent to $5.75 billion during the first nine months of FY 2024–25 (July–March), up from $5.66 billion a year earlier, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). In the 2023–24 financial year, the country achieved a historic milestone as agro exports reached $8 billion, marking a 37 percent increase over the previous year’s $5.8 billion.

ANUGA 2025 serves as an unparalleled platform for Pakistani exporters to engage in direct business matchmaking with international buyers, explore new market opportunities, and strengthen Pakistan’s footprint in the global food supply chain, according to the official.

Out of a total of 54 Pakistani firms, 34 companies are exhibiting products at Pakistan Pavilion, while the remaining are participating in the exhibition in their private capacity. Pakistani exhibitors are taking part in pre-arranged business matchmaking sessions with international buyers, attending sector-focused networking events, and pursuing partnership opportunities across Europe, the Middle East and other global markets.

“This integrated strategy seeks to draw foreign investment, foster bilateral trade partnerships, and position Pakistan as a competitive supplier and a growing hub for regional agro-business cooperation,” she said.

In addition to exhibiting export-ready products, Tahir said, the TDAP also plans to use the ANUGA 2025 platform to promote Pakistan’s International Food and Agriculture Exhibition (FoodAg) 2025, scheduled to be held in Karachi on Nov. 25-27.