2nd Pak-Africa Business Summit Rescheduled to Late July to Accommodate Increased Participation
Karachi, April 29, 2025 – The Pakistan Southern Africa Trade Federation (PSATF) will inaugurate its Pak-Africa Business Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, during the 2nd Pak-Africa Business Summit, now rescheduled for late July 2025.
Speaking at the conclusion of his recent visit to Pakistan, Muhammad Rafiq Memon, Chairman of PSATF, emphasized the Centre’s significance in strengthening trade relations between Pakistan and Africa. “The Pak-Africa Business Centre will serve as a milestone in bilateral trade, offering a one-stop hub for business promotion in South Africa—the gateway to the African continent. Equipped with a state-of-the-art product display centre and extensive warehousing facilities, the Centre will provide unparalleled opportunities for traders and exporters from Pakistan and Southern Africa,” he stated.
Originally scheduled for June 24-26, 2025, the 2nd Pak-Africa Business Summit has been postponed to facilitate the formal inauguration of the Business Centre and to allow greater participation from Pakistani traders and exporters. “Despite completing all preparations, we decided to reschedule the Summit following requests from the business community and trade bodies in Pakistan, who require additional time to register for the event,” explained Mr. Memon. “The overwhelming interest from Pakistani exporters and traders has been encouraging, and we want to ensure maximum participation.”
To further enhance coordination with trade officials and businesses ahead of the Summit, PSATF will establish liaison offices in Sindh, Punjab, and Islamabad. Additionally, the Federation plans to sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) and the Engineering Development Board (EDB) of Pakistan to promote Pakistani products in Africa and increase trade volume between Pakistan and Southern Africa.
During his April visit to Pakistan—at the special invitation of the Prime Minister and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC)—Mr. Rafiq Memon led a delegation that participated in the Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad. He also held high-level meetings with the Federal Minister for Commerce, Mr. Jam Kamal and the Minister of the Board of Investment, Mr. Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh in Islamabad. Both ministers were formally invited to attend the Pak-Africa Trade Summit 2025.
The PSATF delegation also met with the Consul General of Mozambique Mr. Khalid Tawab, Consul General of Ethiopia Mr. Ibrahim Tawab, Engr. Khuda Baksh, CEO of the Engineering Development Board (EDB), Mr. Karim Aziz Malik, Chairman of FPCCI President Secretariat, Mr. Ahmed Ali Sirohi, DG (Africa), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mian Abuzar Shad, President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Chairman of the Association of Builders and Developers Pakistan (ABAD) Mr. Hassan Bakhshi and the Director General of Press Information Department, Karachi Ms. Irum Tanveer.
As part of his visit, Mr. Muhammad Rafiq Memon toured the Gujranwala Business Centre (GBC), the Pakistan Sports Goods Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PSGMEA), and the Surgical Instruments Manufacturers Association of Pakistan (SIMAP) in Sialkot. He also signed an MoU with GBC to bolster bilateral trade cooperation between Pakistan and Africa.
In discussions with the Board of Investment (BOI), both parties reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing trade relations, with a focus on increasing Pakistan’s exports to African markets. Similarly, during his meeting with Federal Commerce Minister Jam Kamal, key topics included exploring new trade opportunities, boosting bilateral exports, and introducing high-quality Pakistani products to Africa.
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