National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): Germany is currently focusing on
renewable energies and energy efficiency in Pakistan including
consultancy for individual enterprises on energy conservation
in their production processes.
Germany has financially supported major hydropower
projects and upgradation of distribution system in Pakistan
and the Pakistan-German Renewable Energy Forum will open soon
for business.
This was stated by Ambassador of Germany to Pakistan,
Ms. Ina Lepel while addressing business community at Islamabad
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI).
She said a German business delegation along with Deputy
Foreign Minister had already visited Pakistan in last June
while another delegation was envisaged for Pakistan during the
second half of this year to explore new avenues of mutual
cooperation.
She said Germany’s trade figures with Bangladesh,
Thailand and Malaysia were much larger and Pakistani
businessmen should make more efforts to promote trade with
Germany.
Ms. Ina Lepel said GSP Plus was a key driver for
promoting bilateral trade between Pakistan and Germany, adding that
Germany was looking ways for helping Pakistani business community to fully avail themselves this facility.
However, she cautioned that GSP Plus preferences should not be taken
for granted as Pakistan has to ensure compliance with 27 international conventions including human rights, governance and labor standards.
She said Germany was one of main donors for the TVET reform program in
Pakistan to provide young people with skills and competences required by domestic and foreign employers.
Another program at the factory level was aimed at enhancing the
productivity and improving labor standards which could give Pakistani companies competitive edge in European markets as European consumers were willing to pay more for products produced according to the international standards.
She said German Embassy was working with the Pakistani business
community to strengthen the German-Pakistan Business Institutions.
The Ambassador said Pakistan-German Chamber of Commerce
and Industry has been granted license and hoped that it would
further improve bilateral trade and economic relations between
the two countries.
In his welcome address, President, ICCI, Atif Ikram Sheikh said that
given the market size of Pakistan and Germany, bilateral trade of $2.3 billion in 2014 was not up to real potential of both countries and there was a great need of diversifying two-way trade by focusing on more products.
He said keeping in view the importance of CPEC for investors, it was
high time that more German companies and investors should explore Pakistan for investment and joint ventures.
He said Germany has always supported Pakistan in getting greater
market access to EU and hoped that it will continue to advocate for promoting Pakistan’s business and economic interests in the European markets.