Vietnam ready for talks on PTA for full trade potential with Pakistan: Ambassador
Vietnam Ready for PTA Talks with Pakistan to Boost Trade Potential
Vietnam’s Ambassador to Pakistan Pham Anh Tuan announced that Vietnam is ready to begin negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Pakistan to strengthen economic cooperation and unlock the full potential of bilateral trade. He made these remarks at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
Vietnam–Pakistan Preferential Trade Agreement
At the 5th Joint Trade Committee meeting in Hanoi (July 2025), both sides agreed to launch PTA negotiations in 2025. The ambassador highlighted that bilateral trade reached $850 million in 2024 and is projected to cross $1 billion in 2025, showing encouraging progress.
Key Trade Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Countries | Pakistan & Vietnam |
| Agreement | Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) negotiations in 2025 |
| Bilateral Trade 2024 | $850 million |
| Projection 2025 | $1 billion+ |
| Pakistan’s Exports 2023-24 | $357 million |
| Pakistan’s Imports 2023-24 | $285 million |
| Pakistan’s Exports 2024-25 | $227 million |
| Pakistan’s Imports 2024-25 | $374 million |
| Vietnam’s Global Exports (2024) | $520 billion |
| Vietnam’s Global Imports (2024) | $382 billion |
Importance of Vietnam–Pakistan Trade
- 53 years of diplomatic ties with cooperation in politics, trade, culture, and people-to-people links
- Vietnam’s global trade performance places it among the fastest-growing economies in Asia
- Pakistan’s exports to Vietnam: corn, cotton fabrics, leather, cotton yarn
- Vietnam’s exports to Pakistan: electronics, synthetic filament yarn, rubber, tea
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Opportunities for Future Cooperation
- Diversify Pakistan’s export basket: seafood, processed meat, pharmaceuticals, fruits, vegetables
- Explore information technology & tourism collaboration
- Utilize Vietnam’s role in ASEAN for wider market access
- Consider FTA (Free Trade Agreement) beyond PTA in the long term
- Strengthen market intelligence sharing between chambers of commerce
FAQs
Q1: What agreement are Vietnam and Pakistan negotiating?
They are starting talks on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to boost bilateral trade.
Q2: What is the current trade volume between the two countries?
Bilateral trade stood at $850 million in 2024 and is expected to cross $1 billion in 2025.
Q3: What does Pakistan mainly export to Vietnam?
Pakistan exports corn, cotton fabrics, leather, and cotton yarn to Vietnam.
Q4: What does Vietnam export to Pakistan?
Vietnam exports electronics, synthetic yarn, natural rubber, and tea to Pakistan.
Q5: Can the PTA lead to a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)?
Yes, LCCI leaders suggested exploring a future FTA after the PTA to maximize trade opportunities.
