Article by: Irum Fawad:
A visit of H.E.Dr. RudigerLotz German Consulate General to Karachi and president FPCCI Mr. Irfan Sheikh. During the last 26 years the exports of Pakistan to Germany have increased at an annualized rate of 5.53%, from $625M in 1995 to $2.53B in 2021. In 2021, Pakistan did not export any services to Germany. Comparison In 2021, Germany ranked 5 in the Economic Complexity Index (ECI 1.81), and 3 in total exports ($1.56T).Germany is now Pakistan’s fourth largest trade partner. Germany has provided a total of around 3 billion euros to Pakistan since 1961. That makes Germany the fourth largest bilateral donor.
Contribution to promote German culture and brands in Pakistan: While working for Siemens Pakistan, Ms. Shehzad realized that there was a great opportunity to create synergies with other German companies in Pakistan. The idea was to collaborate and organize marketing events to allow German brands to promote their products and german culture . With this in mind, Ms. Shehzad contacted the German Embassy to help support her idea and launch the first event for this campaign.
Germany on the Road was jointly organized by top German companies . The idea was to create a road show which would allow participating German companies to join the road show in presenting their products and services to top industrial towns and business hubs like Faisalabad, Multan, Lahore, Sialkot, and Islamabad.
Following the success of GOTR, the first ever Pakistan German Spring Fest took place in 2009. Soon after, we were also able to host Oktoberfest 2016, 2017, and 2019 which were organized in collaboration with the German Embassy and the Goethe Institute/Anne Marie Schimmel Haus at the residence of Sowaba Shehzad.
She also promoted her brands and products at different trade fairs in Germany, served as the Vice President of the German Pakistan Chamber of Commerce, and is very active in developing trade and cultural ties between the two countries.
KARACHI: Andreas Wegner, Deputy Consul General of Germany, has offered help in creating working relationship between Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Association of German Chambers of Commerce & Industry (DIHK) and collaboration in various fields.
He expressed his optimism that most of the FPCCI demands can be met with mutual consultative processes, and Germany is willing to help with polytechnic & vocational training, establishing collaborations between German & Pakistani IT companies, offering German language courses, helping with the rehabilitation of flood affectees, fostering the capabilities to cope with climate change, facilitating the renewable energy projects, and encouraging postgraduate students to apply for PhD scholarships in Germany.
Andreas Wegner specifically expressed his concerns that millions of flood affectees of Pakistan are in the need of rehabilitation; and, Germany has committed €63 million in assistance so far.
However, he added, total cost of rehabilitation and reconstruction may be as high as $30 billion. Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, President FPCCI, remarked in a message on the occasion of the visit of Andreas Wegner, Deputy Consul General of Germany to the Federation House, expressed his satisfaction that Pakistan’s bilateral trade surplus with Germany has crossed psychological mark of $1 billion and there are clear indications that Pakistani exports are on a growth trajectory with the world’s fourth largest economy and the largest in Europe with a GDP of $4.5 trillion.
However, Irfan Iqbal Sheikh noted, the exports of $2.5 billion are still way too below the real potential as there is huge demand of Pakistani textiles in Germany.
Suleman Chawla, SVP FPCCI, stated that Pakistan should be focused on the renewal and expansion of GSP+ to make full use of the very affluent German consumer market.
He also stressed upon the need to export services and human resources to Germany in large numbers. Shabbir Mansha, VP FPCCI, explained that Pakistan can benefit from Germany enormously through technology transfer as Germany is one of the most advanced countries in the world technologically.
He requested the visiting diplomat that German embassy should consider making visa issuance process speedy and more forthcoming for Pakistan as a lot of businessmen, workers, tourists and students want to go to Germany for their respective fields of interests.
It’s always very important to collaborate both sides governments to imply the discussion. Bilaiteral negotiations is needed in regards of economy growth .
