Germany keen to cement bilateral trade ties: Envoy

SIALKOT, Feb 19 (APP)::German Ambassador to Pakistan
Mr. Martin Kobler on Monday said that Germany was keen
to strengthen trade ties with Pakistan and increase trade
volume between both the countries.
Addressing a meeting of Pakistan Sports Goods Exporters
and Manufacturers Association here, he stressed the need for
an increase in the exchange of business delegations between
the two countries on a regular basis and, for this; the
relevant chambers could play a vital role.
He said that Germany would ensure easy access of Sialkot
exporters to EU and German markets, in this regard.
He also vowed to develop strong business-to-business links
between the businessmen of Canada and Pakistan, saying that
the step would also help to explore the mutual trade potential
between the two countries.
The German Ambassador highly appreciated the Sialkot exporters
for carrying out several mega projects including Sialkot International Airport Limited and now even their own private airline on self-help basis.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Pakistan Sports Goods Exporters
and Manufacturers Association Husnain Iftikhar Cheema said that the economic and financial development cooperation between Pakistan and
Germany goes back in 1961, with the trade investment exceeding
2.3 billion dollar and Germany was now Pakistan’s fourth largest
trade partner.
He said that German market had big demand for the items produced
in Sialkot. There is a great potential for joint ventures and business cooperation between Germany and Sialkot based companies especially in the fields of Sports Goods, Surgical Instruments and Leather
Products.
He said that German brands and companies from different industrial backgrounds were currently working with our local industry members of Sialkot and therefore, we have very close interaction with the German industry and society.
Earlier, the German Ambassador visited to several leading sports
goods manufacturing industrial units in Sialkot and witnessed the production of sports goods.
Senior Vice Chairman Rana Muhammad Suleman, Chairman Surgical Assiciation Ch. Qaiser Mehmood, SVP SCCI and SVP Abdul Waheed and
VP Abid Ahmed Khawaja also attended the meeting.