FAISALABAD City News

Pakistan not fully exploiting GSP Plus status: German envoy
From Our Correspondent
FAISALABAD: Concrete follow-up steps are being taken to give a quantum jump to the Pak-Garman bilateral trade in line with the decisions taken by Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in November last, said German Ambassador Dr Cyrill Nunn.
Addressing the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) here Thursday, he said that a delegation of the German businessmen would visit Pakistan on April 19. During the visit, the delegation would meet local entrepreneurs and government functionaries to explore new business opportunities, he added. He said that the delegation would also attend the mega cities conference to be held in Karachi to discuss the economic and business related issues of mega cities coupled with provisions of civic amenities, including health and education facilities.
The German envoy said that the vocational training programme had been launched with 100 million Euros to equip one hundred thousand youths with market driven skills. He said that the German concept of first seeking demand and then imparting training to the pre-determined numbers of youths had been adopted for the immediate absorption or adjustment of the trained manpower. He said that the programme was started in Karachi and in the later phase, it was also introduced in Lahore. He said: “The Punjab chief minister has taken keen interest in the programme.” He said that the programme could also be launched in Faisalabad.
Regarding Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Berlin, Dr Cyrill said that both countries also agreed to encourage free trade between the two countries. He said that an institute of renewable energy had been set up in Lahore to promote renewable energy resources by improving the overall capacity of the technical training institutes already working in the country.
Regarding trade relations, he said that 20 per cent increase in Pakistani exports to the EU countries was very encouraging after the grant of GSP Plus status. He said that the decision had commercial as well as political considerations with ultimate objectives to create new jobs by enhancing economic activities. He, however, pointed out that Pakistan was not fully exploiting the benefits of the GSP Plus status as its focus had been restricted to the textile sector. He said that Pakistan should also avail from the opportunities available in agriculture, wood products, leather products, etc. He termed the establishment of the Pak-German Business Forum as the first step towards the establishment of the Pak-German Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The joint chamber would have a branch in Lahore and Faisalabad could also join it through the branch, he added. Regarding multiple visas, the German envoy said that he was considering issuing long term multiple visas to frequent and genuine travellers to Germany.
Speaking on the occasion, FCCI president Rizwan Ashraf thanked German support for the grant of GSP Plus status to Pakistan. He said that a GSP Plus cell had been created in the FCCI Research and Development Department to facilitate its members to fully en-cash the facility.
He appreciated the advancement made by Germany in solar and renewable energies. He said: “In Pakistan we have sunlight for 16-17 hours per day during summer and Germany can help us in meeting our energy demands from this source.”