Ukraine, Pakistan to hold first-ever meeting of joint economic commission

According to the report, such an agreement was reached following a phone call between Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and his Pakistani counterpart Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

"The Ukrainian and Pakistani foreign ministers agreed soon to hold the first political consultations between the foreign ministries after a five-year hiatus and the first-ever meeting of the joint Ukrainian-Pakistani commission on economic cooperation," the report said.

According to the report, Kuleba was pleased to note that during last year's food crisis in Pakistan, it was Ukrainian traders who exported the critical amount of grain, which compensated for two-thirds of the deficit.

Kuleba said Ukraine was ready to increase exports, including by developing together with Pakistan trade with other countries in the region.

Both ministers expressed their common desire to significantly increase the number of Pakistani students coming to study in Ukraine.

Both parties also exchanged invitations to pay mutual visits.

According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, trade between Ukraine and Pakistan is showing positive dynamics. In 2020, it increased by 288% compared to 2019, and in the first half of 2021, it grew by 58% compared to the same period in 2020.

The joint Ukrainian-Pakistani commission on economic cooperation was established in 2012, but has not yet met.

Political consultations between the foreign ministries of Ukraine and Pakistan were last held in 2016.

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