Dutch Business Delegation Meets Pakistan's Commerce Secretary: Trade Is About US$1.9 Billion
A 15 member Dutch delegation met Pakistan's Commerce Secretary on 12 October. Trade is about US$1.9 billion. What the release says and what exporters can do.
A Dutch business delegation of 15 met Pakistan's Commerce Secretary in Islamabad on 12 October 2026, and both sides put their trade at about US$1.9 billion. The Netherlands is Pakistan's second largest export market in the European Union, the Dutch ambassador said. No agreement was signed, and the release names sectors but no targets.
For Pakistani exporters, the meeting matters because the Netherlands is the entry point to Europe for many goods. Here is what was said, what the numbers do and do not tell us, and what exporters can check now.
What was said at the Commerce Ministry meeting
The Press Information Department says Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul hosted the delegation, which was led by Merlin Melles and accompanied by the Netherlands ambassador, Robert-Jan Siegert. Representatives of the Pakistan Software Export Board also took part. The release lists 15 Dutch entrepreneurs and business executives.
The sectors discussed were textiles, information technology, agriculture and food processing, engineering, sports goods, software and digital services, and dairy and sustainable technologies.
The delegation visited Systems Limited and industrial and textile facilities in Karachi. Both sides agreed to keep up regular business contact and to turn interest into partnerships, joint ventures and investment. The release names no ports, deals or investment amounts.
What the 1.9 billion dollar figure means
The release says bilateral trade is approximately US$1.9 billion. It does not say which year this is, and it does not split it between Pakistan's exports and its imports. Treat it as a round figure that officials quoted, not a statistic we checked.
| Item | What the release gives | What it leaves out |
|---|---|---|
| Bilateral trade | About US$1.9 billion | The year and the export and import split |
| Rank in the EU | Second largest export market, said the ambassador | The first largest and the share |
| Delegation | 15 Dutch executives | Company names |
| Sectors | Seven areas listed | Targets or deals |
| Next steps | Regular engagement | Dates or an agreement |
Why the Netherlands matters to Pakistani exporters
The Netherlands is a main route into the EU single market. Goods that land at Rotterdam can go on to other EU countries. For textiles, that matters because many of Pakistan's exports to Europe depend on the zero duty access under the EU's GSP+ scheme.
The EU's new GSP rules apply from 1 January 2027, and Pakistan must reapply before the end of 2028, as set out in our guide to the EU GSP+ rules from 2027. A Dutch buyer will ask about that, so exporters should know the position.
Shipping is the second link. Weekly direct sailings from Karachi to European ports, including Rotterdam, were restored this month, according to the Maritime Affairs Ministry. We covered the ports and the weekly call in the report on direct weekly shipping from Karachi to Europe.
The third link is software. The Pakistan Software Export Board's presence and the visit to Systems Limited show interest in IT services as well as goods. Recent export figures are in Pakistan's IT exports in August 2026.
What an exporter can do now
A delegation visit does not create orders by itself. These steps turn the interest into something you can use.
- Register as an exporter and confirm your account, using the WeBOC and TDAP steps.
- Ask your buyer which EU rules apply to your product, such as labelling or sustainability documents.
- Check that your goods qualify under GSP+ and keep the origin papers ready.
- Ask your forwarder whether a direct weekly sailing to Rotterdam suits your delivery date.
- Follow the Commerce Ministry and the Software Export Board for follow-up meetings.
Be careful with offers that cite this visit. Fraudsters use news of a foreign delegation to sell "Dutch buyer" lists. A real buyer will name its company and ask for samples, and it will not ask you to pay for an introduction.
What to watch next
Three things would turn this visit into something measurable. The first is a named company or a signed contract. The second is a Commerce Ministry or Board of Investment notice with a date. The third is official trade data that shows Dutch orders rising.
Until one of these appears, the visit is a sign of interest and nothing more. Exporters should keep their own buyer lists and treat this as a useful reminder of the market, not as a promise of orders.
Common questions
How much trade is there between Pakistan and the Netherlands?
About US$1.9 billion, according to the Press Information Department release of 12 October 2026. It gives no year and no export and import split.
Is the Netherlands Pakistan's biggest EU market?
The Dutch ambassador called it Pakistan's second largest export market within the EU. The release does not name the largest.
Was any agreement signed?
No. The release lists sectors and says both sides will keep up regular engagement. It names no agreement, target or date.
Who met the Dutch delegation?
Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul hosted it, with the Pakistan Software Export Board present. The delegation then visited Systems Limited and facilities in Karachi.
Does this change Pakistan's EU duty status?
No. The visit does not affect duties. GSP+ access continues under a transition, and Pakistan must reapply by the end of 2028.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 13 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read the Press Information Department's release of 12 October 2026 on the Pakistan and Netherlands trade meeting. The trade figure and the export market ranking are as stated in that release, and we could not check them against customs or EU statistics. The GSP+ position is from our earlier reading of the European Commission's pages on 9 October 2026.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
