German ambassador visits Sarhad Chamber, vows to strengthen mutual collaboration, President Junaid Altaf highlights potential, vast investment opportunities in KP
PESHAWAR
President, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Junaid Altaf underlined the need of establishment of business to business linkages, holding single country trade fair and visa facility under simplified procedure to enhance the Pak-German bilateral economic cooperation.
Speaking during a visit of the Ambassador of Germany in Pakistan Ms Ina Lepel here at the chamber house on Thursday, President Junaid Altaf stated prospects of brighter to strengthen Pak-German mutual trade relations.
SCCI President Junaid Altaf and German Ambassador Ms Ina Lepel have agreed to act as a bridge between German investors, Pakistani enterprises.
Both sides have underscored the importance of sustained engagement to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, and development.
The meeting reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening economic ties and promoting a stable, transparent, and predictable business environment that supports long-term growth.
Apart from the chamber senior vice president Muhammad Nadeem, vice president Sabir Ahmad Bangash, Businessman Forum leader and former FPCCI president Ghazanfar Bilour, former presidents Fuad Ishaq, Faiz Muhammad Faizi, Fazal Moqeem Khan, IAP President Ayub Zakori, WCCIP President Qurtul Ain, Senior vice president Zaraa Imtiaz and Vice president Zareen Akthar, members of the SCCI’s executive committee Aftab Iqbal, Ashfaq Ahmad, Saifullah Khan, Sultan Muhammad, Adnan Nasir, Abbas Fuad Azeem and Shamur Rahim and Monawar Khurshid, Sikandar Iqbal, Ihsanullah, Saddar Gul, Mushtaq Ahmad, Affaf Ali Khan, Rashid Iqbal Siddiqui, Fazal e Wahid, Ishtiaq Paracha, SCCI Secretary General Muqtasid Ahsan, a large number of members of the business community were present on the occasion.
SCCI chief while quoting exports and imports figures, viewed that the current trade volume between the two countries doesn’t reflect true potentials of the both countries, which can be improved by fully capitalizing each other’s trade-potentials, experts and mutual collaboration under joint ventures.
President Junaid Altaf commented on GPS+Status for Pakistan, calling it a value basket framework, stating that Pakistan is fully committed to ensure implementation of international conventions to rip full advantage of duty-free access to EU Market under the scheme.
We want to mutual collaboration in diverse sectors especially in waste management, environmental preservation and eco-tourism and other potential fields,
KP is a lucrative destination for the foreign as well as local investment, wherein immense opportunities are available to invest in oil, gas, hydel power generation, gemstone, marble, furniture, honey, pharmaceutical and other sectors, President Junaid Altaf said.
Ms Lepel, while responding to various suggestions and queries of the business community said her country is eager to strengthen commercial and trade relationship with Pakistan.
She acknowledged the micro economic outlook/data in Pakistan is shown good and progressive, adding that business and investment opportunities.
Ambassador Ina Lepel reiterated Germany’s readiness to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in key areas including climate change, health and social protection, private sector development, and the upgradation of vocational and technical education institutions.
She emphasized that these collaborative efforts would contribute significantly to sustainable economic growth and deeper economic ties between the two countries.
The Ambassador noted that vast untapped potential exists for cooperation between Pakistan and Germany and expressed her keen interest in exploring new avenues of collaboration in close coordination with Pakistan’s business community.
Highlighting the critical role of the private sector, she stressed that businesses from both countries can play a pivotal role in expanding trade and investment relations.
She assured the business community of the German Embassy’s full support, particularly in strengthening business-to-business (B2B) linkages and identifying promising sectors for cooperation.
Ambassador Lepel also acknowledged the importance of trade fairs and exhibitions as effective tools for promoting trade, investment, and mutual understanding between nations.
She appreciated the SCCI’s proactive initiatives, especially its efforts to support women-led enterprises and promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
