Pakistan and Ethiopia talk banking links, but announce no deals or targets

Pakistan and Ethiopia discussed stronger banking links and closer trade ties in Islamabad on Monday, but the meeting produced no agreements, financial targets or timetable, according to a statement from the finance ministry.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb told Ethiopian Ambassador Dr Omar Hussein Oba on Monday about Pakistan's economic reform programme and the measures the government says are supporting growth, the ministry said. Both sides stressed the need to improve financial connections between their banking systems and to expand commercial cooperation, which the ministry said could support trade and investment.

The talks also covered how regional conflicts disrupt energy supplies, fertiliser availability and food security, with both sides emphasising the need to prepare for external economic shocks. The statement did not identify any specific conflict or supply disruption, and officials gave no details of how the two countries would coordinate.

Air links and people-to-people contacts were on the agenda as well, with the ministry framing better connectivity as a support to business and community ties. No new flight routes or implementation dates were announced.

Both countries said they would keep talking to advance trade, investment and economic cooperation. Further progress, the statement suggested, depends on continued engagement, with no timeline set for future measures.