Angela Canavan, chair of the Pakistan Ireland Business Council, reveals how despite a recent surge in activity, Pakistan remains a largely untapped market for Irish exporters.
Trade between Ireland and Pakistan has more than doubled in recent years, climbing from $200m to nearly $500m, as business leaders on both sides work to unlock what they describe as a vastly underdeveloped commercial relationship.
The growth has been driven primarily by Irish service exports, which reached approximately $465m to Pakistan in 2024, while goods trade remains more modest with Ireland importing $182m worth of Pakistani products and exporting $60m in return.
Angela Canavan, chair of the Pakistan Ireland Business Council, believes the figures represent just the beginning of what could become a significant economic partnership.
“It’s a very untapped market at the moment,” she says. “There’s huge opportunity, huge population, and they have huge capacity in terms of large-scale manufacturing, which we don’t have.”
Building bridges through business networks
The Pakistan Ireland Business Council, established in 2019 with support from the Pakistani embassy, has grown to over 200 members comprising business owners, professionals and trade stakeholders from both countries.
Unlike government trade agencies, the council operates as a voluntary organisation focused on practical connections and relationship-building.
“Enterprise Ireland would open the doors. We would keep those doors open,” explains Canavan, who also runs a professional services company serving Ireland’s childcare sector. The council’s role is “conversations, connectivity, bilateral discussions that support business.”
The networking approach has already yielded concrete results. Canavan recounts how a chance airport lounge meeting between Pakistani business people led to one now “supplying John Lewis and Tesco with towels.”
Such informal connections complement the formal trade promotion work of government agencies, with the council positioning itself as a trusted intermediary that can provide ongoing support to businesses navigating cross-border opportunities.
Services sector shows strongest growth
The trade figures reveal where the greatest potential lies. While goods trade remains relatively balanced, Ireland’s service exports to Pakistan dwarf the reverse flow, suggesting significant demand for Irish expertise in technology, fintech, and professional services.
This aligns with Pakistan’s young population and growing economy, which presents opportunities for Irish companies with expertise in knowledge-based industries. The service sector growth also reflects the countries’ complementary strengths, with Pakistan offering manufacturing capacity that Ireland lacks.
Former Pakistani ambassador Aisha Farooqui, who served in Dublin for three years until the end of 2025, witnessed the trade relationship’s expansion during her tenure. When she arrived, bilateral trade stood at approximately $200m, reaching nearly $500m by her departure.
Practical support for market entry
Beyond networking events, the council is developing more structured support mechanisms for businesses looking to enter new markets. Canavan envisions “sectoral round table discussions” that would address specific compliance requirements, regulatory barriers, and market entry strategies.
“If somebody is coming over here to set up here, or vice versa, we would have mentorship programmes where we buddy people up as well, so that they’re not on their own,” she explains. This practical approach extends beyond pure business concerns to helping Pakistani families settling in Ireland connect with local services including healthcare, schools, and childcare.
The council plans its first business delegation to Pakistan for autumn 2026, working alongside Enterprise Ireland and Chambers of Commerce to identify participating companies and explore specific opportunities.
Addressing market uncertainties
Canavan acknowledges that Pakistan can seem like “an unknown quantity” to Irish businesses, particularly given current global trade tensions and tariff uncertainties emanating from the United States. No doubt Trump’s latest war on Iran raises concerns too.
However, she argues that risk exists in all markets and can be mitigated through proper preparation and local knowledge.
“There’s risk everywhere,” she notes. “That’s really where the PIBC would come in. It’s looking at educating, supporting, providing opportunities for Pakistan in terms of compliance and how to enter the market.”
The council’s upcoming meeting with Pakistani chambers of commerce, facilitated by the new Pakistani ambassador Mariam Madiha Aftab, represents a step toward more formal collaboration structures. The session will explore what types of businesses want to trade between the countries and identify barriers that need addressing.
Call for curious companies
As global trade patterns shift, Canavan sees opportunities for Irish companies to diversify their international relationships. The council’s message to potentially interested businesses is straightforward: “If you’re curious, reach out.”
The organisation’s strength lies in its member expertise and connections rather than formal resources. “If they don’t have the expertise, they’ll connect you with somebody who has the expertise, and they’ll keep you on the right track and make those introductions to try and make it happen for you.”
With bilateral trade having reached $500m and both sides recognising significant untapped potential, the business council’s networking approach may prove instrumental in determining whether this commercial relationship can achieve its apparent promise.
The next test will come with the planned autumn delegation to Pakistan, which could establish whether the personal connections and voluntary enthusiasm that have driven growth so far can translate into the larger-scale business relationships both countries appear to want.
Top image: (inset) Angela Canavan, chair, Pakistan Ireland Business Council. Background image: Photo by Sajid Khan on Unsplash
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