German ambassador to Pakistan Ina Lepel has called upon the rice exporters to play their role in promoting the bilateral trade and further strengthening the economic relations between Pakistan and Germany. 'We have good economic relations but there is more room to further enhance the bilateral trade as Germany has more trade with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or Malaysia as compared to Pakistan,' Ina Lepel said while speaking at a reception arranged by the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) here on Tuesday.
Those who spoke on this occasion included Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Shafiq, Group leader and former chairman Shahzad Ali Malik, Pir Nazim Hussain Shah and REAP Secretary General Kashif ur Rehman. REAP Treasurer Ali Hussam, former Vice Chairman Taufiq Ahmad Khan and a large number of exporters were also present on this occasion. Ina Lepel also expressed her sorrow and grief over the tragic Lahore incident which claimed over 70 lives and said that the German government strongly condemned such incidents and fully support the efforts of the Pakistan government to confront the evil of terrorism. Regarding exchange of business delegations, she said that lots of business delegation from Germany visited Pakistan including a business delegation last June while another is coming in the second half of the current year. To a demand of issuing visa to businessmen, she said that letter from an association is considered as an additional support while deciding on a business visa. However, she said that visas are issued only to genuine businessmen and letter of support is no guarantee.
Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Shafiq in his address said that during the year 2012-13 Pakistan exported 127,953 metric tons of Basmati and Non-Basmati rice varieties to EU countries which comes to 111.812 million US dollars while current export to EU countries stands at 206,000 metric tons per annum. Whereas export to Germany in the year 2013-14 was 9393 metric tons which rose to 11,986 metric tons in year 2014-15. He requested the German ambassador to relax visa policy for genuine businessman and upon the recommendation of the association so the rice exports to Germany could be increased.
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