Karachi, December 6, 2023 – Germany is eyeing an expansion of business relations with Pakistan, according to Muhammad Usman, Pakistan’s Representative in the German Emirati Joint Council for Industry and Commerce (AHK).
The German government and businesses have increasingly shown interest in Pakistan, leading to the establishment of a dedicated Pakistan desk at AHK in Dubai.
Muhammad Usman, who led a trade delegation from the German Emirati Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK) during its recent visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), stated that Germany aims to foster ties with Pakistani Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). AHK will play a pivotal role in facilitating this expansion by connecting business communities through networking, business-to-business meetings, and trade delegation visits.
The trade delegation, including Deputy Head of Mission at the German Consulate in Karachi Andreas Wegner, President KCCI Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh, and other dignitaries, discussed the potential avenues for collaboration. AHK, based in Germany and represented in 93 countries through more than 130 Chambers of Commerce globally, expanded its services to Pakistan last year by opening a Pakistan desk in Dubai.
The leader of the German delegation emphasized the focus on Renewable Energy, sustainable textile, and leather sectors as potential areas for collaboration. The German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action is actively supporting initiatives to encourage German SMEs to collaborate with Pakistani counterparts. The ease of connectivity facilitated by AHK, particularly through its presence in Dubai, is expected to strengthen ties between German companies and Pakistani stakeholders.
The German delegation highlighted ongoing initiatives, hosting delegations from the healthcare sector and civil security technologies in recent years. Future projects include exploring collaboration possibilities in sustainable textile and leather, as well as energy infrastructure projects in Pakistan.
President KCCI Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh welcomed the German delegation and acknowledged the warm bilateral diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Germany since 1951. He expressed optimism about Germany’s interest in enhancing social, political, and economic relations with Pakistan, emphasizing the importance of regional stability for sustainable economic development.
President KCCI also addressed the trade statistics, noting a decline in Pakistan’s exports to Germany. He stressed the need to reduce trade barriers, diversify products, simplify customs procedures, and promote SMEs to stimulate economic integration. Highlighting the potential for German investment in various sectors such as dairy, agriculture, textiles, IT, electrical machinery, plastics, mineral fuels, power generation, oil & gas, and infrastructure projects, President KCCI underscored the importance of transferring German technology to Pakistan for enhanced productivity and competitiveness.
As both nations look forward to deeper collaboration, the discussions held during this visit pave the way for a more robust economic partnership between Germany and Pakistan in the coming years.
