Germany, the most powerful economy of European Union (EU), is eying Pakistan’s strong agriculture sector for bilateral cooperation.
Speaking to an interactive session organised by Pakistan German Business Forum (PGBF) at Goethe Institute, the German Council General Dr Tilo Klinner said that Pakistan has tremendous potential in agriculture sector and Germany wants to bilateral cooperation in this sector.
He said that Germany is trying that Pakistan would get the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) plus status which will give a better market access of Pakistani products to EU markets. “Pakistan has also huge scope in tourism industry which needs to be addressed,” he added.
Addressing the participants, Ambassador of Pakistan in Germany Abdul Basit said that the two countries are yet to explore many sectors of bilateral cooperation. Expressing a hope, he said that the coming months of July and August would prove as start of new era of bilateral trade between two countries.
“Many issues would be included and many others would be excluded to remove hurdles in way of cooperation between two countries in business, science and technology sectors,” he apprised.
“Free trade agreements is not an easy job for any country and it is a time consuming process, Basit said, adding that India is engaged with EU for free trade agreement since many years but it yet to reach an agreement.”
“Pakistan’s tourism industry need attention of the government, he said, adding that world’s leading travel and trade show ITB held in Berlin every year where 187 countries all across the globe participate and inform the tourism potential in their countries but the presentation of Pakistan always remained pathetic despite of huge potential in this ignored industry.”
PGBF President Qazi Sajid Ali told Pakistan Today that a delegation of businessmen would visit Germany to explore various venues of bilateral trade. He said that Pakistan would participate in International Green Week which is scheduled to be held on January 17-26 2014 in Berlin. Pakistan would also participate in ITB, world’s leading travel and trade show which would be held in Berlin in March.
