TODAY, Pakistan has been not only a Sectoral Dialogue Partner (SDP) of Association of South-East Asian Nations, but also a member of ASEAN’s Regional Forum (ARF). In 2023, Pakistan’s overall trade with South-East Asian nations, including key players like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, amounted to $8 billion. Contextually, Islamabad’s cementing ties —with Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam —have given a remarkable boost to our strategic relations with these countries. Geographically, Vietnam’s location is strategic. It has access to major shipping routes in the South China Sea via its long coastline and shares a lengthy land border with China. Vietnam is China’s biggest trading partner in South-East Asia and provides sea access to several landlocked Chinese provinces. Historically seen, Pakistan and Vietnam have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing tourism, trade and investment ties.
Pakistan exports corn, yarn, cotton, pharmaceutical products and textile, leather and footwear materials to Vietnam. Vietnam exports tea, mobile phones, fisheries products and chemicals to Pakistan.In July 2022, Pakistan was registered as an exporter of Plant-origin products to Vietnam. The Pakistan side is also working on registration of animal-origin and fisheries products in Vietnam. Bilateral trade has almost doubled from $331 million in 2013 to $705 million in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 1 billion in the near future. In August, 2023, a business delegation from Vietnam participated in the “ASEAN-Pakistan Business Opportunities Conference” organized by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan in Lahore and Karachi.
Currently, Vietnamese Prime Minister Ph?m Minh Chính affirmed that Vi?tnam attaches importance to the friendship and cooperation with Pakistan, at a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the 8th Future Investment Initiative (FII) Summit in Saudi Arabia on October 30. Whereas Pakistan’s premier Shehbaz Sharif suggested the two countries raise their bilateral trade to US$10 billion in the near future and expressed his hope to soon welcome Chính and other Vietnamese leaders to Pakistan. They also concurred to promote collaboration in emerging realms like digital transformation, green transition and the circular economy in the time ahead.
All the more,Pakistan and Thailand have maintained strong diplomatic ties for decades, characterized by mutual support and cooperation. Recently, there have been discussions about enhancing trade relations, particularly in sectors such as textiles and seafood, where Pakistan is seeking favourable tariff concessions. The new governments in both countries are committed to building on this legacy of cooperation, indicating potential for deeper collaboration in various fields. In 2022, Thailand ranked 29 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 0.96), and 27 in total exports ($312B). That same year, Pakistan ranked 84 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI -0.45), and 66 in total exports ($38.6B).
Additionally in May, 2024, Pakistan and Thailand celebrated the 73rd anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2024, highlighting their longstanding and cordial ties. Both nations are actively working to enhance bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, education and science and technology. Their respective policies, Thailand’s “Look West Policy” and Pakistan’s “Vision East Asia Policy,” complement each other and create a framework for deeper collaboration. For the latest developments, it’s essential to monitor ongoing initiatives and agreements that may arise from high-level meetings or bilateral discussions, as both countries seek to strengthen their partnership in various sectors.
Currently, Thailand has signed an agreement with Pakistan to supply 100 Chaiseri , First Win 4×4 armored vehicles to the Pakistan Army. This deal represents a significant military collaboration between the two countries and involves a collaboration involving the delivery of these vehicles to Pakistan’s Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT), enhancing Pakistan’s defence mobility and tactical capabilities. Further, Pakistan and Singapore remain committed to strengthening their bilateral relations across multiple sectors, including enhancing political cooperation, promoting trade and fostering business collaborations. This commitment aims to solidify friendly ties and explore opportunities for mutual benefits. “Singapore is signatory to 25 regional FTAs with 38 partners today, saving US$730 million in tariff, covering 90 per cent of its total trade. We can gain immensely from an FTA with Singapore.” The two countries focus on improving interoperability among their defence forces, particularly through joint maritime training exercises involving their navies.
Moreover, Pakistan and Singapore have revitalized the scope of their bilateral relations, focusing on broadening their relationship through various initiatives. The commitment for further enhancing ties between the two countries was expressed last week, as Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Foreign Minister of Singapore Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan met on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) being held here in the capital of Samoa. Singapore is a major trade partner of Pakistan, and the two countries have a bilateral trade volume of around $2.5 billion. Singapore’s main exports to Pakistan are mechanical appliances, mineral fuels and electrical machinery. Pakistan’s main exports to Singapore are crude petroleum, onions, alcohol and refined petroleum. While there is a modest level of economic interaction—Pakistan’s exports to Singapore are approximately USD 87 million, with imports being similar in scale—the overall trade relations are not very extensive. Both countries recognize the importance of enhancing ties, particularly in political and economic domains.
Importantly, “Singapore is home to some of the world’s best institutions of higher learning where Pakistani students have done specialisation in different disciplines. Singapore’s technical training and skill upgrading model is worth emulating by countries like Pakistan having more than 65 percent of the population below the age of 35.’’ In this regard, Pakistan desires to develop institutional linkages with these institutions, especially in areas of medical research and development. Though Pakistan has developed a multilateral range of relations with the ASEAN-affiliated countries, Islamabad’s future horizon of cementing ties with Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, has strategically enhanced its multilateral scope of relations with these states.
—The writer, based in Pakistan, an independent IR & International Law analyst, also an expert in Conflict and Peace Studies (with special focus on Palestine, Kashmir), is member of European Consortium of Political Research (ECPR), including the Washington Foreign Law Society/American Society of International Law. He also deals with the strategic issues.
(rizvipeaceresearcher@gmail.com)
