MULTAN, Oct 27th: German Ambassador to Pakistan Bernhard Schlagheck has said that Germany seeks to expand the scope of bilateral trade relations. He said that two business delegations are scheduled to visit Pakistan to explore collaboration with their Pakistani counterparts.
Addressing the gathering of the business community at the Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), the ambassador pointed out that bilateral trade between Pakistan and Germany amounted to over 3 billion euros with the trade balance in favour of Pakistan.
Ambassador Schlagheck was glad to visit Multan and he was highly impressed with the culture of this ancient city and significance of this area. He said Germany is keen to strengthen mutual trade ties with Pakistan.The envoy urged for more business-to-business contacts between German and Pakistani businessmen. He assured full cooperation in ensuring easy access for Pakistani exporters to German as well as international markets including the European Union.
More than 30 German companies are already working in Pakistan while efforts are being made to attract more German investment in order to enhance current trade volume between the two countries. In this connection two-three German trade delegations are expected to visit Pakistan this year, said Mr. Bernhard Schlagheck, Ambassador of Germany, Islamabad.
Regarding enhancement of bilateral trade, he said that private sector is considered as economic engine of any country and we must encourage direct relations between the private sectors of the two countries.
He explained in details about the economic strength of Germany and said that its robust SME sector is contributing a major role in the overall development of this country. “Most of these units are family-owned but conservative and probably similar to Pakistan and hence we must try our optimum best to encourage linkages between these sectors”, he added.
He told that next year, two delegations regarding textile and chemical will visit Pakistan while yet another delegation on renewable energy is also in the pipeline. He hoped that these delegations will have direct links and by themselves explore the business opportunities available in Pakistan.
He also proposed that Pakistani ambassador in Germany should also arrange investment seminars in important chambers of Germany. He assured to extend full facilitation in organizing these events.
Mr. Bernhard Schlagheck also mentioned the German cooperation in environment, health, good governance and vocational training and said that he also intends to encourage female entrepreneurs so that they could contribute their productive role in the overall economy of Pakistan. In this connection, I shall discuss various related issues with the Vice Chancellors of the Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) and University of Agriculture Multan(MNSUA). However, he said that society should also play its role in providing congenial environment to its female population.
He told that in Germany, vocational and practical training is being focused to harvest its immediate economic benefits and in this connection, Germany can arrange exchange of faculties to replicate this model in Pakistan.
Regarding visas, he said that it is very ticklish issue and he cannot give any immediate assurance. However he will try to redress these complaints to some extent.
Mr. Christian Boettcher,Commercial Counsellor of German, also accompanied by him and explained in details the efforts being made to give a quantum jump to the bilateral trade between the two countries.Earlier in his address of welcome,President of MCCI Khawaja Salahuddin has said that Multan has immense heritage,rich culture and age long tradition of learning, wisdom and trade.Multan has been an important trade centre and gateway for Central Asian states since centuries.It is basically agriculture base and it produces 80 % cotton of the country,World class mangoes,Orange(citrus) and vegetables besides other regular crops of sugarcane, wheat,rice, gram and maize.He said Germany is Pakistan's second largest trading partner within the European Union and the trade Balance between Pakistan and Germany is in favour of Pakistan.Germany is a key player in getting GSP-Plus status for Pakistan and we are thankful to Germans for this support. He said that Pakistan is now set to take off with CPEC projects near competion.About bilateral trade between the two countries, he told that German exports are around 3 billion euro whereas Pakistani exports are only 1.3 billion euro. He said that Pakistan wants to create a win-win situation for both countries and hence we suggest that German industrialists should invest in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which has offered a wide range of opportunities for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). In this connection, German could invest in renewable energy, manufacturing of textile machinery, auto mobile, engineering, chemical and many other sectors. “Pakistan will provide them a huge market while they could also export their surplus to the landlocked Central Asian States”, he added.Later Senior Vice President of MCCI Syed Iftikhar Hussain Qureshi presented a vote of thanks .During Question-Answer session, Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi President of Dera Ghazi Khan Chamber said that Germany is a reliable trade partner of Pakistan and it should help Pakistan in health ,Renewable energy and agriculture sector.He suggested that he(the envoy) should visit other areas of Southern Punjab like Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan,Muzaffargarh, Loralai.Former President of MCCIMian Fazal Elahi Sheikh stressed the need for softening the visa policy for traders and suggested that Gernman visa must be issued on the recommendation of Multan Chamber.Syed Zulfikar Ali Shah also gave some proposals for transfer of modern technology in different trades.Shakil-ur-Rehman said that Pak- German Agriculture Institute and farm must be reactivated to train the local farmers in modern technology.Later Mian FazalElahi Sheikh present a shield to the guest.