Europe is the most lucrative business destination, particularly, for Pakistani businessmen. Pakistan's exports could be doubled within a short period of time and with very little effort. This was said by the head of ten-member delegation of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), returning home after a nine-day visit to Germany and Paris.
Delegation's head Kashif Younas Mehar said that only IT sector in Pakistan could add up exports of $4 billion to $5 billion, but the lack of proper information is the main hurdle in the way.
"Not only Pakistan will get a huge market but also Europe will have access to Afghanistan and other land locked Central Asian States through Pakistan once both the sides develop trade relations to the required and desired level. It will be a win-win situation for both the sides," he added.
He said the Europeans had no doubts about Pakistan's potentials but only because of the negative image, they were reluctant to make any joint venture or investment in this country, adding that he said the LCCI alone could never change this scenario as it could only convince business people to do business.
"The European, particularly the Germans are very impressed with the GDP growth witnessed by Pakistan and economic reforms. They know well that Pakistan's economic growth is the fastest in the region but their media keep them at a distance," he commented.
Giving the details about his visit Kashif said that the delegation had visited several business organisations plus one-to-one meetings pointing to a wrong perception about Pakistan. He lauded the role of commercial attaches appointed in Pakistan embassies in Germany and Paris, saying, "These people are putting in their best efforts but all their steps are being defeated by negative perception of Pakistan."
Commercial Consular in Pakistan Embassy in Berlin Viqar Khilji, Head of Commercial Division Pak Consulate in Frankfurt Feroze Junejo, Economic Minister in Brussels Tariq Puri and Commercial Consular in Paris Jehanzeb Khan, these people are serving the country in real terms, he said.
"Marble, fruits, particularly mangoes, steel, mining, heavy machinery meant for construction and port handling, copper extraction, energy, home textiles are a few strong areas through which Pakistan could earn billions of dollars.
He said that Brussels, the capital of European Union, has a huge scope for IT. With a little focus on IT sector our exports could touch up to unprecedented levels. Pakistan could be a good market after China and India, he said.
The head of LCCI delegation said that the visit was so successful that a high-level business delegation of German Near and Middle East Association, Germany's oldest organisation for bilateral economic relations between Germany and countries of the Near and Middle East region, will visit Pakistan in November 2007 to explore business and investment opportunities.
The LCCI delegation, comprising Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman, Mian Muzaffar Ali, Mohammad Ayub, Mian Shahid Raza, Hakim Ali Bhatti, Faisal Saud and Bilal Arshad Bajwa, also met German Association of small and Medium-sized Enterprises and the Foreign Trade Department of Chamber of Commerce, Berlin State. Several businessmen and representatives of various German Industries attended the meeting. German business community presence was a proof that they want to do business with their Pakistani counterparts.
Barbara Bonrath Kaster, Head of Asia, Americas, Western Europe division, gave a detailed briefing to LCCI delegation on German Association of Small and Medium-sized business and stressed the need for chalking out a joint strategy to promote business-to-business interactions. About Paris, the head of the LCCI delegation said that it has a huge scope for fashion wears and furniture but here the government would have to play its role.
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