Pakistan to stage single-country trade expo in South Africa to expand African market reach

Pakistan will hold a single-country trade expo and international business conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, in late August or early September 2026 as part of a broader push to deepen economic engagement with African markets.

The event is being organised by the Pakistan SADC Chamber Trade Federation (PSCTF) and is expected to bring together around 100 Pakistani exhibitors and an equal number of business delegates, while attracting more than 1,000 African investors, importers, business leaders and corporate representatives.

Officials and organisers said the two-day expo is designed to strengthen trade linkages between Pakistan and member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), while also creating opportunities for business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) engagement.

The initiative will also serve as a platform for the signing of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) across multiple sectors, showcasing Pakistan’s industrial capacity and export potential to African markets.

PSCTF Central Convener for Pakistan, Syed Moizuddin, said Africa, particularly South Africa, represents one of the most promising emerging markets for Pakistani exporters, with significant potential for expanding trade in goods and services.

He said the expo would help position Pakistani businesses in new markets and support efforts to diversify the country’s export destinations beyond traditional trading partners.

The announcement was made during a business breakfast hosted at Karachi Gymkhana in honour of Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan. The event was attended by business leaders, diplomats, political figures and representatives of trade bodies.

Participants included MNA Syed Hafeezuddin of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), PM Youth Programme Coordinator for Sindh Dr Fahad Shafiq, PSCTF Patron-in-Chief Rafiq Suleman, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Senior Vice President Saqib Fayyaz Magoon, Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) Chairman Hassan Bakhshi and PSCTF Sindh Chapter President Muhammad Shoaib Qadri.

Moizuddin said the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme is helping develop a new generation of entrepreneurs and skilled professionals, strengthening startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are critical to sustainable economic growth.

He said Pakistan must also adapt to rapid global technological changes, particularly artificial intelligence, by upgrading education and economic policies to build a digitally skilled workforce capable of competing internationally.

He added that PSCTF is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to promote Pakistan’s economic potential globally, with a strong focus on African markets. He noted that the federation recently organised the Pakistan-Africa Trade and Investment Conference 2026 in Karachi, bringing together policymakers, diplomats, financial experts and business leaders to explore trade and investment opportunities involving Pakistan, Africa and regional partners including Iran.

He said Pakistan has significant export potential, while African economies offer opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships in trade, industrial cooperation, banking, technology transfer and investment.

Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan assured full government support for initiatives aimed at expanding Pakistan’s presence in emerging markets, particularly Africa.

He said youth empowerment remains a core policy priority, noting that nearly 60 per cent of Pakistan’s population is under 30. He invited the business community to contribute input for strengthening youth-focused initiatives.

He added that government efforts are focused on enabling youth participation in entrepreneurship and economic activity, and said he is engaging with institutions, trade bodies and academia to build stronger partnerships for youth development.