ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb has said that Pakistan attaches high importance to strengthening economic cooperation with the Netherlands, emphasizing that long-standing partnerships with reputable international investors play a vital role in supporting the country’s economic development, promoting trade and investment, and enhancing confidence within the global business community.
He said this during a meeting with Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Pakistan, Robert Jan Siegert who called on him along with a delegation from Engro Corporation and Engro Vopak Terminal Limited (EVTL).
The delegation included Ahsan Zafar Syed, President Engro Corporation; Ammar Shah, CEO EVTL; and Mr. Yasir Ali, Vice President and Chief Government Relations Officer, Engro Corporation.
The Finance Minister appreciated the delegation’s briefing and acknowledged the importance of ensuring that investments contributing to Pakistan’s industrial ecosystem continue to operate within a transparent and efficient framework.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to facilitating a supportive environment for credible foreign investment and assured the delegation of the government’s cooperation in addressing matters relating to ongoing economic partnerships.
On the occasion, the Dutch Ambassador reaffirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to further expanding bilateral economic ties. He highlighted the presence of Dutch enterprises in Pakistan and emphasized that successful partnerships between Pakistani and Dutch companies demonstrate the potential for deeper economic collaboration between the two countries.
During the meeting, the Engro team briefed the Finance Minister on the operations of Engro Vopak Terminal Limited, a joint venture between Royal Vopak of the Netherlands and Engro Corporation.
The delegation noted that the terminal has been operating at Port Qasim since 1996 and plays an important role in Pakistan’s industrial and energy supply chains by handling key chemical imports used by downstream industries, as
well as a significant share of marine LPG supporting household energy needs.
The delegation also shared perspectives regarding the future operating arrangements of the terminal and the importance of maintaining continuity in specialized infrastructure that supports industrial production and supply-chain stability.
They highlighted the longstanding collaboration between the partners and the broader contribution of such investments to Pakistan’s economic landscape.
The meeting also included an exchange of views on the evolving regional situation and its potential implications for energy markets and supply chains.
The finance minister noted that the government was closely monitoring developments and remains engaged with relevant stakeholders to ensure adequate availability of petroleum products and to manage potential supply challenges.
The delegation shared general industry perspectives on logistics and supply considerations amid international market volatility.
