Pakistan to host envoys conference focused on Africa

Pakistan will host an envoys conference focused on Africa and President Arif Alvi will address the inaugural session scheduled for November 27-28, said a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Tuesday.

The statement said Pakistan’s relations with African nations have always been characterised by cordiality, mutual trust and understanding.

The conference aims at deepening Pakistan’s engagement with Africa in diverse fields, the statement added.

“It shall bring together the Pakistani Envoys posted in Africa with important stakeholders including senior leadership from relevant Ministries and Departments and representatives of the private sector,” said MOFA.

The foreign ministry elaborated that Africa is the second-largest continent with 20 per cent of the world’s landmass and 54 sovereign states, with 1.2 billion people and the largest youth population on the globe.

With a collective GDP of over $2.3 trillion and an import market of around $500 billion, most countries in Africa are witnessing stable growth.



“Due to its rich natural resources and growing middle-class consumer market, the World Bank has predicted that most African countries will reach middle-income status by 2025,” the press release stated. “This presents a tremendous opportunity for Pakistani goods and services.”

“As part of UN peace-keeping operations, Pakistan has made a significant contribution for peace, security and development on the Continent over the past several decades,” said MOFA.

It also said that the conference participants shall deliberate on ways and means to further strengthen existing relations with African countries and diversify and deepen political, economic, security and socio-cultural ties.

According to MOFA, the conference will also provide leading manufacturers, exporters and IT organisations the opportunity to brief the Pakistani envoys on potential goods and services which can be exported to African markets.

Furthermore, leading academics and representatives of think-tanks will share their perspectives and recommendations, it further added.

The conference will be addressed inter-alia by Advisor to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Chairman Board of Investment Zubair Gilani and Governor State Bank of Pakistan Reza Baqir.

The conference outcome shall be presented to the Prime Minister Imran Khan in the closing session along with concrete recommendations crafted by the envoys, proposing a way forward for robust engagement between Pakistan and Africa.