Simon Penney’s appointment as Trade Commissioner to boost UK-Pakistan ties: Acting British HC

ISLAMABAD, Oct 10 (APP):Acting British High Commissioner to Pakistan Richard Crowder on Wednesday said Simon Penney’s appointment as Trade Commissioner for Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Middle East was a demonstration of the UK’s commitment to boost the UK-Pakistan trade relationship.
Richard Crowder mentioned that the UK had become Pakistan’s second-largest export market in goods globally and expressed desire to see more UK companies doing business in and with, Pakistan.
Speaking about his role, Simon Penney said the UK wanted to work in partnership with businesses and governments to identify opportunities for greater collaboration, according to a press release by British High Commission here.
“This could be in traditional sectors of energy and infrastructure, but also in sectors’ which are key to transformation. Healthcare and life sciences, education, professional services and consumer goods are sectors where UK expertise has much to contribute,” he said.
The UK’s Department for International Trade welcomed Simon Penney in the new role of the Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Pakistan, Afghanistan and Middle East.
In this new role, Penney will drive the UK’s trade and investment ambitions across the region, taking a leading role in efforts to boost export growth, two-way investment and increasingly open up markets by seeking to help resolve market access barriers and create business environments making Pakistan an attractive place for UK companies to do business.
This further reinforces the UK government’s commitment to increasing trade with Pakistan. Deputy High Commissioner and UK Trade Director for Pakistan Elin Burns leads the trade team in Islamabad and Karachi.
In September last year, Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Member of Parliament Rehman Chishti as her trade envoy to Pakistan. He has visited Pakistan three times in that role and now Simon Penney will lead the trade effort across the region.