Germany will convince its private sector for technology transfer while facilities would also be extended through GTZ programme to provide trained and skilled manpower to Pakistan. German Ambassador Dr Christoph Brummer said this while addressing a presentation before performing the groundbreaking ceremony for a state-of-art dyeing house at Kay and Emms private limited. The German ambassador expressed satisfaction over the pace of industrial growth but said that more steps were needed to strengthen its gains. He also supported foreign direct investment to gear up the pace of industrial uplift.
Dr Brummer mentioned the GTZ programme and said it would provide trained and skilled manpower to its industrial sector to improve its quality and compete in the international markets.
The German ambassador said he would convince German companies to explore the possibility of technology transfer to their Pakistani counterparts, and suggested that the preference should be given to the textile machinery sector.
Earlier, Kay and Emms Pvt Ltd Chief Executive Officer, Dr Khurram Tariq said the new dyeing house would be constructed over four acres of land with an estimated cost of 4.5 million dollars. It would have the latest machinery in addition to facility of reverse osmosis to soften the available underground water and treatment plant to doctor the industrial effluent, he said. "Three out of five foreign companies, engaged in the construction of this dyeing facility, are from Germany", he added.
Dr Brummer also visited various sections of the factory and appreciated the quality of its products. Later, he unveiled a plague and also performed the groundbreaking ceremony.
Chairman Sharif Tariq, Collector Customs Ikram Ullah Ghauri and Muhammad Aslam Sheikh of Allied Bank were also present during this function.
Earlier, addressing the members of Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, German Ambassador Dr Brummer said Pakistan's economy was improving, but still a lot needed to be done, as most of the capital coming here was speculative and investment unproductive.
He said the overall impact was encouraging which must be fortified by speeding up the peace process between Pakistan and India.
He said Germany invested around 10 million dollars annually in Pakistan, but there was ample room for improvement. However, Germany's economy was not in good shape, he added.
"We have to spend 10 to 15 times more on the rehabilitation of East Germany as compared to our global economic development programme, besides, the unemployment rate was also shocking in Germany.
He said five German delegations visited Pakistan last year and in the wake of those visits, some major and several small and medium enterprise companies were planning to invest in Pakistan.
Answering a question, he said a German technical programme was not abandoned despite bad experiences, adding, "We have only changed its pattern."
About visa applications, he said the percentage of rejected applications was 25 to 35, which was very high, however the issue should be taken up in the perspective of Germany's internal security problems.