A two-day first-ever Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conference will commence in Nairobi on Thursday.

Besides Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Adviser for Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood will participate in the Conference. During the visit, the Foreign Minister will hold meetings with the Kenyan leadership, including Cabinet Secretaries for Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

Apart from Kenyan Cabinet members, dignitaries from other African states and Pakistani envoys in Africa, the Conference will be attended by a strong contingent of business-people and entrepreneurs from Pakistan, who will interact with their African counterparts. In all, some 300 participants are expected to attend. The Conference is part of Pakistan's 'Engage Africa' initiative, which is in line with Prime Minister Imran Khan's vision to forge closer political and economic ties with the African Continent, and place a stronger accent on economic diplomacy.

Africa's increasing integration and growth momentum together with Pakistan's potential as a connectivity hub have opened multiple avenues for win-win collaboration.

The Conference will provide a platform for G2G and B2B interaction. It will be an important opportunity for Pakistani and African businesses to interface, identify the areas for enhanced engagement, and develop proposals for customized economic collaboration.

Aman/Abid