The Ambassador (designate) to Sweden, Shaheen Gilani, has urged the Pakistani businessmen to join hands with their Swedish counterparts, who have a hand on technology and far ahead in terms of technological advancement when compared to a number of other countries.
This was stated by him while speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Tuesday. The LCCI President Mian Shafqat Ali, Senior Vice President Abdul Basit, Vice President Aftab Ahmad Vohra and former president Mian Misbahur Rehman also spoke on the occasion and threw light on various issues hampering two-way trade between Pakistan and Sweden.
The ambassador maintained that Pakistani business community would have to adopt an aggressive strategy to enter into Swedish market because Swedes are not only the quality conscious but very selective and careful while making deals with other countries. He said that a lot of Swedish investment could come into Pakistan provided the business community here targets small and medium enterprises in Sweden. He said that Sweden is the only country in the world where there is no concept of "high-ups" because the whole society is socialistic oriented and above all they are very open to do business. He urged the LCCI office-bearers to come forward and help Pakistani businessmen to explore that market. He also promised to extend maximum co-operation to the people who want to do business with their Swedish counterparts.
Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI President Mian Shafqat Ali said that Pakistani mission abroad could help a lot in multiplying the existing volume of exports, which is very small when compared to other global economies.
He said that Sweden has highly advanced industries such as iron & steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio & telephone parts, armaments) wood pulp, paper & paperboard, processed foods and motor vehicles. There is a need to invite Swedish businessmen to establish such industries in Pakistan on 100 percent equity basis or in collaboration with Pakistani businessmen. Pakistan has cheap but skilled labour and a huge market for such products. It is a key market of 155 million people. It can service the markets of Central Asian States, South Asia and Gulf States.
He said Sweden could be seen as a profit plus market. Premium Pakistani products like textile, citrus fruit and sports could easily win over the market. But for this, Pakistani businessmen need a constant support from missions abroad. The best way to do is through identifying suitable time for trade fairs and exhibitions.
The LCCI president said that to further expand economic and commercial ties it is necessary that the business houses and the chambers of commerce and industry of the two countries are actively engaged.
Abdul Basit urged the ambassador to help explore areas of trade and co-operation between the two countries and actively engage himself with the Swedish government besides media interviews and meetings with think tanks and business chains to create better image of Pakistan and to promote trade between the two countries.
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