Mission Progress

The Pakistani delegation, led by Khalid Pervez, Chairman of the Pakistan Chemical Manufacturers Association (PCMA), arrived in the Czech Republic at the invitation of the Czech Chemical Industry Association. In addition to bilateral visits and meetings with representatives of the Czech chemical industry – specifically with the companies Spolchemie, Ethanol Energy/Agrofert, Brenntag, and REAGARTIS – the delegation had the opportunity to visit the International Engineering Fair in Brno, where they met with Mr David Müller, Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Industry and Trade. He stated that "the Czech chemical industry is one of the key sectors of the economy and yet faces significant challenges, which is why we were pleased to support the Czech Chemical Industry Association and its interest in establishing cooperation with partners from promising and growing, albeit distant, markets. Moreover, during the discussion with Pakistani entrepreneurs about cooperation possibilities, we encountered further business opportunities, for example in the energy or engineering sectors." On October 9th, a meeting also took place with representatives of the Czech Chamber of Commerce (Hospodářská komora ČR), including with Vice President Radek Jakubský and the Chairman of the Czech-Pakistani Chamber, Amir Latif. Members of the delegation also visited Kovoprojekt company in Brno and a wastewater treatment plant in Kolín. The last working day in the Czech Republic, October 10th, was dedicated to meetings at the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague and at the Embassy of Pakistan in Prague.

The Chemical Industry Sector and Business Potential

The Pakistani chemical industry focuses on the production of basic industrial chemicals, including polymers, plastics, petrochemicals, pigments, dyes, detergents, and pharmaceuticals. Although trade with the Czech Republic is currently low, both sides see great potential for development in this sector. The Czech Ambassador to Pakistan, H. E. Ladislav Steinhübel, stated: "The chemical industry has always been one of the key pillars of Czech economy and has a lot to offer. Pakistani manufacturers are seeking to modernize their facilities, and, for example, some surplus Czech technologies and equipment could find their application precisely there. It is natural that our Embassy in Islamabad tries to respond to the interest of Pakistani manufacturers in these technologies, and we are pleased that this is gradually succeeding." The program for the bilateral negotiations included a presentation of member companies of the Czech Chemical Industry Association and a discussion on cooperation in trade and regulatory affairs. Representatives of the MIT and the Czech Chamber of Commerce agreed on the possibility of supporting and expanding bilateral activities through various projects and initiatives.

Short-term activities include proposals for organizing joint workshops and B2B networking forums. Pakistan is also interested in the possibility of establishing a Czech pavilion at the PACE 2026 trade fair in Pakistan, which would showcase Czech innovations and technologies. The Pakistan Chemical Expo (PACE 2026) will take place on June 5th – 6th, 2026, in Lahore.

In the area of legislation and chemical substance management, Pakistan is seeking support in adapting its legislative framework to the best practices of the Czech Republic, especially in hydrocarbon storage and handling, including the REACH regulation. In the medium term, the transfer of technology and the expansion of selected Czech chemical production into Pakistan can be considered. Pakistan offers low-cost production capacities and proximity to markets in South and Central Asia.

Michaela Chrtová, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Islamabad