Tehran, Islamabad Aim to Boost Agricultural Trade to $3b

TEHRAN (Iran News) Iran’s Minister of Agriculture Jihad, Gholamreza Nouri, met with Pakistan’s Minister of Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, in Tehran where the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in food security, trade, and regional connectivity.

Nouri began the meeting by extending condolences on behalf of the Iranian government and people for the devastating floods in Pakistan, which caused loss of life and widespread damage. He also expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s “brotherly and resolute” stance in condemning the recent 12-day Israeli assault on Iran.

Highlighting the significance of agricultural cooperation, Nouri said: “The two major nations of Iran and Pakistan, with a combined population of more than 300 million and deep historical ties, must broaden their engagement. Food trade between us is of special importance.”

He noted that current agricultural trade stands at $1.3 billion, and both governments have agreed to raise this figure to $3 billion in the near future.

According to the Iranian minister, there is already capacity for Pakistan to export 300,000 live animals annually to Iran. He added that Tehran is ready to increase corn imports from Pakistan and redirect much of its rice purchases away from other suppliers to Islamabad.

“We are interested in carrying out imports through barter trade,” Nouri explained, “and in return, we can export Iranian fruits and agricultural products to meet Pakistan’s domestic needs.”

He also underlined opportunities in agricultural machinery, saying Iran’s tractor industry is prepared to supply modern, high-quality equipment to Pakistan. However, he stressed that such expanded exchanges would require upgraded and strengthened border infrastructure, since most of the trade would be conducted overland.

Nouri welcomed Pakistan’s proposal to include Bangladesh in future trade arrangements, noting Iran’s interest in using Pakistan as a transit hub to export certain agricultural products to Dhaka.

“At the same time,” he said, “we are prepared to play a similar role for Pakistan by facilitating its agricultural exports to Turkey, given our strong ties and trade routes with that country.”

For his part, Pakistan’s Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan expressed appreciation for Iran’s hospitality and reciprocated condolences for Iranian lives lost during Israel’s recent attacks.

He noted that both Iran and Pakistan had faced difficult months, including regional conflicts, and said Pakistan was grateful for Iran’s firm stance during those times.

Khan described the Joint Economic Commission, meeting after several years, as “a unique opportunity” covering 17 protocols across agriculture, industry, trade, and other sectors. He added that a business forum was being held in parallel, with strong participation from Pakistani traders and widespread public interest.

“What struck me with joy,” he said, “was that many of these trade delegations spoke Persian, reflecting the cultural, religious, and historical closeness of our peoples. I believe the full capacities of our two nations are still largely untapped.”

Khan invited Iran to participate in the Karachi Agricultural Expo in November 2025, an annual event showcasing regional agribusiness.

He also emphasized the growing global focus on food security, particularly in South Asia. “If you look at Bangladesh, with a population of nearly 300 million together with Pakistan, it imports everything from sugar and corn to many other basic products. This represents a major opportunity for joint investment and trade,” he said.

To this end, Khan proposed exploring a trilateral agreement among Iran, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and said Pakistani officials had already begun preliminary follow-up on the idea.

The Pakistani minister welcomed Iran’s proposals on live animal imports and expanded grain trade. He said Pakistan’s Ministry of Food Security had already formed committees to advance these projects and expressed hope they would be implemented soon.

Khan also highlighted Pakistan’s progress in seed technology, noting that collaboration in this field could be mutually beneficial. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to boost corn exports to Iran, pointing out that the two countries’ shared border and geographic proximity would reduce transportation costs and make trade more profitable.

Concluding the talks, both ministers emphasized that the involvement of entrepreneurs and the private sector would be critical in turning these plans into reality. They agreed that continuous, specialized cooperation would pave the way for stronger economic and trade ties, helping both nations secure food supplies and expand regional influence.