Ambassador of the Netherlands Ms Jeannette Seppen has stressed that the GSP Plus granted by European Union offers tremendous opportunities to Pakistan and the Netherlands which should not be missed.
“We can only encourage Pakistani traders to work closely with the government and all other stakeholders in the field of trade to ensure that all 27 conventions attached to GSP Plus are really implemented. It is Pakistan, itself, that has signed up to it which shows Pakistan’s determination and we are also here to help”, she added while exchanging views during her visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Monday.
Former KCCI President and Businessmen Group Chairman Siraj Kassam Teli, BMG Senior Vice Chairman Anjum Nisar, KCCI President Shamim Ahmed Firpo, Senior Vice President Asif Nisar, Vice President Muhammad Younus Soomro, Diplomatic Missions & Embassies Liaison Sub-Committee Chairman Altaf A. Ghaffar, former KCCI President Majid Aziz and KCCI Managing Committee members were also present on the occasion.
The Dutch ambassador further said, “Some well-reputed international and Dutch NGOs are also here to support Pakistan when it comes to women rights, when it comes to freedom of expression and a number of other issues, particularly the labour rights and labour condition which is an issue that is very close to our hearts.”
She underscored the need to make collective efforts to raise Pakistan’s image abroad and make this country even more attractive market for the world.
Highlighting the Dutch interest in different sectors, she pointed out that there was a tremendous potential to enhance trade and investment cooperation and work together in the agriculture, dairy, livestock, horticulture, shipping, ports, maritime infrastructure, water management and the energy sector. “These are a few fields where Pakistan and Netherlands can grow together, a lot is already going on and a lot more can be done, which is our firm conviction”, she added.
She said that Netherlands was very serious in enhancing trade ties with the business and industrial community of Karachi as Karachi and Netherlands were perhaps, at first sight, very different entities, but they were not that different. Many Dutch multinational companies including shipping companies were successfully operating from Karachi whereas Dutch dredgers were also engaged in carrying out dredging at the Port Qasim. “Our ties go way back and there is a bright future ahead of us as we find ourselves in a very favorable environment”, she added.
Jeannette Seppen said that in spite of some pessimism, the trade balance between Pakistan and the Netherlands remained ‘very positive’ which, in the current economic circumstances, was really ‘remarkable’. “It has definitely not gone unnoticed that the security situation in Pakistan, particularly in Karachi, has improved considerably and, fortunately, what we see is that the situation continues to improve”, she noted, adding that of course, there were challenges but the environment was very positive as lots of work was going on in different areas including the ease of doing business.
Businessmen Group chairman & Former KCCI President Siraj Kassam Teli, while commenting on current Pakistan-Netherlands trade ties, stressed that these ties should improve further and must get better which could be done through more collaborations and more exchanges of delegations. “The more we learn about each other, will certainly prove beneficial for both the countries. If you think that Karachi Chamber can help in achieving this goal of creating a trade-friendly environment, we would love to do”, he added.
He said that Netherlands was popular for its dairy products and it was heartening to note that some Dutch companies were efficiently working in the cattle farming businesses in Punjab and Sindh. “I am sure there is a lot we can do, which has to be done”, he added.
