Pakistan has unique geographical and strategic geo-political location and considered to be the hub of trade in South Asia, therefore EU countries should also consider Pakistan for enhancing trade and investment, said Zafar Bakhtawari of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI).
He was addressing a dinner hosted by ICCI in honour of EU envoys in Pakistan including Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, Head of the Delegation and Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan, Petros Mavroidis, Ambassador of Greece, Ambassador of France, Austria, Czech Republic, Romania, Italy, Poland, Spain, UK Deputy Head of Mission and Swedish Deputy Head of Mission.
Speaking on the occasion, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark said that Pakistan and EU enjoyed political and economic relations and EU has supported Pakistan in a number of sectors. He said that Pakistan would get the GSP plus status by the end of this year which will give a better market access of Pakistani Products to EU markets.
Bakhtawari said that European Union (EU) was the largest trading partner of Pakistan with an annual trade volume of over 10 billion euro. He said that Pakistan attached great importance to its relationship with the EU regional bloc as its annual GDP accounts to $17 trillion which was higher than GDP of US which is around $15 trillion and China’s GDP of $7 trillion.
Bakhtawari urged all the EU ambassadors designated in Pakistan to support the country for grant of GSP Plus status which would provide easy access to Pakistani products in EU market and further enhance Pakistan’s volume of trade with EU countries.
Petros Mavroidis, ambassador of Greece, said that Pakistan and Greece need to improve their commercial and economic relations to promote bilateral trade and investment by taking advantage of new business opportunities.
