Pakistan and Croatia Explore Stronger Cooperation in Trade, Ports and Investment
Pakistan and Croatia have agreed to expand bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including trade, investment, port connectivity, agriculture, information technology, tourism and education, following high-level talks held in Islamabad.
During his one-day visit to Pakistan, Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss ways to strengthen relations between the two countries.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, both sides reviewed opportunities for cooperation in areas such as investment, labor mobility, visa facilitation, defense, climate change, infrastructure and digital technology. They also exchanged views on Pakistan’s engagement with the European Union and discussed regional and international developments.
A key topic of the meeting was enhancing cooperation between the ports of Pakistan and Croatia. Both countries emphasized that improved connectivity can contribute to sustainable economic growth, regional stability and stronger international trade links.
The two governments also agreed to hold the next round of bilateral political consultations either later this year or in early 2027, reflecting their commitment to maintaining regular diplomatic engagement.
Speaking during delegation-level talks, Ishaq Dar described the European Union as one of Pakistan’s most important trading partners and said Pakistan is committed to building a long-term partnership with Croatia while expanding cooperation within the EU framework.
Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman said his first official visit to Pakistan provided an opportunity to review bilateral relations and identify new areas for collaboration, particularly in trade, business and economic development. He noted that while relations between the two countries are already positive, there is significant potential for further growth.
The Croatian minister also emphasized the importance of international cooperation in addressing global challenges and expressed support for diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability.
During the visit, Radman also met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The prime minister highlighted Pakistan’s interest in expanding cooperation with Croatia in trade, investment, information technology, agriculture, tourism, connectivity and skilled workforce development.
Prime Minister Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening friendly relations with Croatia and invited Croatian President Zoran Milanović and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković to visit Pakistan on official visits in the future.
The meetings concluded with both sides expressing confidence that closer cooperation would further strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between Pakistan and Croatia.
