Pakistan, Croatia agree to intensify economic relations

Pakistan and Croatia Thursday agreed to further intensify bilateral economic relations, enhance trade and investment, and explore mutually beneficial areas of cooperation.

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Jul, 2026) Pakistan and Croatia Thursday agreed to further intensify bilateral economic relations, enhance trade and investment, and explore mutually beneficial areas of cooperation.

According to a joint communique, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia Dr. Gordan Grlic Radman during their meeting reiterated the need to greater access to each other’s markets as well as strengthen business-to-business linkages.

At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Dr. Gordan Grlic Radman, was on an official visit to Pakistan.

The DPM/FM received Foreign Minister Dr. Gordan Grlic Radman at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad. Both the leaders held detailed delegation level talks. Both sides discussed entire range of their friendly bilateral ties. They also exchanged views on important regional and international issues. Both sides underscored their shared commitment to further deepening bilateral cooperation.

Noting that this is the maiden high-level visit at the Foreign Minister level from Croatia to Pakistan, both sides welcomed it as an important opportunity to inject greater momentum to Pakistan-Croatia bilateral relations. They affirmed their desire to maintain regular high-level contacts and develop mutually beneficial partnerships in all areas of bilateral interest including trade, investment, development, climate change, tourism, infrastructure, IT, seaports collaboration, etc.

Both sides agreed to expedite their procedures leading towards an early signing of (a) Pakistan-Croatia Agreement on Visa Abolition for Diplomatic Passport Holders, and (b) MoU on Cooperation between the Diplomatic Training Academies of the two countries, as well as the opening of the Croatian visa processing facility in Pakistan during the upcoming months.

The Pakistan side will, in accordance with its national rules and regulations, permit the external service provider engaged by the Croatian authorities to help it perform its functions freely. These developments are expected to further facilitate visa-related procedures and contribute to enhancing travel and people-to-people exchanges.

Both sides affirmed that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Bilateral Political Consultations (BPCs) between the two Foreign Ministries (signed in Zagreb on 1 June 2007) provides a useful platform to discuss and deliberate upon all issues of interest between the two countries.

They decided to take full benefit of the BPCs mechanism and agreed to maintain regular contact and hold the Consultations on a periodic basis as envisaged by the MoU. The Croatian side agreed to Pakistan’s offer to host the Bilateral Consultations in the last quarter of the year 2026 or the first quarter of the year 2027. Exact dates would be finalized through diplomatic channels.

They acknowledged the growing importance of expanding economic cooperation in sectors such as information technology, digital services, agriculture, defence and maritime cooperation.

Recognizing the strengths of their respective geo-strategic locations, the two sides exchanged views on connectivity and logistics, including exploring collaborative arrangements between the Croatian ports, as entry points to European markets, and Pakistan’s ports, as gateways to China, West Asia, Central Asia and the wider region.

The Pakistan side underscored the importance of the European Union’s GSP+ scheme for Pakistan and underlined that continuity of the GSP+ is beneficial not only in terms of economic value, but also for the far-reaching socio-economic impacts it has brought about. Pakistan expressed its keen interest in continuing engagement under the relevant European Union framework. The Croatian side noted Pakistan’s interest in submitting re-application for the European Union’s new GSP+ regulation.

Both sides appreciated the growing level of engagement on migration and labour mobility.

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Reaffirming their commitment to promoting safe, orderly and regular migration, they acknowledged the potential for legal pathways for Pakistani skilled workers to Croatia. They noted that they remain open to further dialogue on labour mobility.

The two leaders expressed willingness to expand cooperation in culture, education, science and research, including through educational exchanges and collaboration between universities and research institutions.

Underscoring the role of parliamentary exchanges, the two sides would encourage and facilitate exchanges and cooperation between their respective legislatures.

Both sides commended the support extended by each to the other at the international platforms including the United Nations and agreed to continue advancing their cooperation in the field of each other’s candidatures to various international bodies. Moreover, they decided to engage in consultations on issues of common interest at multilateral forums in future as well.

Pakistan side briefed on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. The Croatian side briefed on the current situation in Ukraine.

Both sides stressed the need to find peaceful solutions, in full respect of the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter. The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in Western Balkans. They agreed to maintain close coordination on regional and global issues based on shared interests and common objectives.

Both leaders discussed the situation in Afghanistan. They expressed serious concerns over the continued presence and activities of terrorist entities in Afghanistan and the terrorist attacks perpetrated by them against neighbouring countries.

The two sides reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and emphasized that Afghan territory must not be used to threaten or attack other countries. They also called on the Afghan Taliban Regime to take concrete and verifiable actions against all terrorist groups, without discrimination, operating in or from Afghanistan.

They also noted with concern the deteriorating situation of human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls, in Afghanistan.

Pakistan side briefed on its mediation efforts in the US-Iran conflict. The Croatian side appreciated Pakistan’s mediation role and efforts culminating in the historic Islamabad MoU signed between the parties on 17 June 2026 as well as the start of the consequent negotiations.

Both sides discussed the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), and welcomed international efforts to end the war in Gaza. They underscored the necessity of ensuring that all parties adhere to the ceasefire commitments, allow for safe, rapid and unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance and work towards a permanent end to hostilities.

They reaffirmed their support for practical and concrete steps for long term and sustainable peace based on a two-state solution in accordance with international law, the United Nations Charter and relevant United Nations resolutions.

Both sides exchanged views on the evolving global landscape and underscored their shared resolve to strengthen multilateralism, uphold the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter, and promote peace, stability and prosperity. In this context, they underlined the importance of full respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, non-interference, peaceful settlement of international disputes, and non-use or threat of use of force in international relations in a manner inconsistent with the United Nations Charter.

Dr. Gordan Grlic Radman thanked Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and the people of Pakistan for the hospitality extended to him and his delegation.

The two ministers expressed hope that the friendly and productive dialogue between both states will continue to create mutual prosperity for both countries in years ahead.