Pharma market access tops Pak-Ethiopia talks

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan called for expediting regulatory approvals for Pakistani pharmaceutical companies seeking access to the Ethiopian market, as the two countries discussed expanding bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation.

Ethiopian Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Oumer Hussein Oba called on the minister in Islamabad. The commerce minister highlighted Pakistan's growing pharmaceutical industry and its interest in expanding exports to African markets, stressing that timely approvals and transparent procedures were essential to building exporter confidence.

The Ethiopian ambassador said he had taken up pending pharmaceutical registration issues with Ethiopian health authorities and received positive assurances regarding early resolution. The meeting also reviewed Ethiopia's ongoing World Trade Organisation accession process, with the commerce minister underscoring the importance of reciprocal market access. Both sides discussed a proposed visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders.