D-8 aims for $500 billion in intra-member trade by 2030, Commerce Minister says in Doha

DOHA: The D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation is pursuing a target of $500 billion in intra-member trade by 2030, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan said in Doha.

He discussed measures to strengthen economic integration and speed up trade among member countries. He also pressed for implementation of the bloc's Preferential Trade Agreement following its ratification by Egypt.

The D-8 secretary-general appreciated Pakistan's continued support for the organisation and stressed the importance of implementing the agreement, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday.

Both sides said existing economic cooperation frameworks must be turned into practical commercial opportunities. They named greater private-sector participation, improved market access and stronger trade linkages among member states as the means. The talks also covered the trade target.

Khan reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to cooperation within the D-8 framework. He said Pakistan would support initiatives to facilitate trade, encourage investment and promote sustainable economic growth among member economies.

The meeting on 25 October was one of a series of high-level engagements during the World Investment Forum 2026. The minister met senior officials, international economic leaders and prominent business representatives. The meetings focused on Pakistan's international trade relations, foreign investment, regional connectivity and economic cooperation across key sectors.

On 25 and 26 October, Khan met Qatar's Minister of Municipality, the chairman of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industries and representatives of Retaj Group. The meetings explored expanding bilateral and multilateral trade, strengthening private-sector links and promoting investment in agriculture, food security, industrial development, hospitality and tourism.

In a separate bilateral meeting on 26 October, Khan and Qatar's Minister of Municipality discussed wider cooperation in agriculture, food security and bilateral trade. The two sides exchanged views on strengthening commercial relations and promoting more institutional and business-level engagement in agricultural development and food supply chains.

The discussions pointed to the potential for closer collaboration between government institutions and private-sector stakeholders. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening longstanding bilateral relations through economic engagement in sectors of common interest.

Khan also met the chairman of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industries to explore new avenues for bilateral trade, investment and private-sector cooperation. He invited Qatari investors to look at opportunities in Pakistan's Special Economic Zones (SEZs), particularly the Karachi industrial area. He said export-oriented manufacturing and industrial partnerships there could provide access to domestic and international markets.

He encouraged the Qatari business community to expand business-to-business interactions with Pakistani counterparts and build stronger people-to-people connections. The aim, he said, was to turn the longstanding friendship between the two countries into tangible economic and commercial opportunities.

Khan highlighted Pakistan's strategic geographical position and the potential for investors to reach wider regional markets, including Africa.