Poland consul asks industries to explore new European markets

Says Pakistan’s finished textile goods have much more appeal in Poland

LAHORE: Industrialists of Pakistan can discover new European markets in coming years in an effort to strengthen the country’s export revenues, led by textile and supported by other key sectors having competitive edge, suggests Ahmad Hasnain, Honorary Consul of Poland in Punjab.



“Exploring new markets in the European Union, which can give significant support to Pakistan’s declining exports, is the need of the hour,” Hasnain said in an interview with The Express Tribune. “Pakistan and Poland can enhance bilateral commerce by boosting trading activities.”

He was of the view that finished textile products could have much more appeal in Poland markets as Pakistan produced quality goods. “At present, we don’t have a substantial presence in Poland as far as textile goods are concerned, but we need to be present in all European markets,” he said.

Hasnain has recently got the slot of honorary consul and based on his past experience he is looking to strengthen ties between the business groups of Poland and Punjab.

In many ways, Poland is recognised as a regional economic leader in central-eastern Europe, with nearly 40% of the biggest 500 companies in the region.

Hasnain boasted that as a destination of choice for international investment and a hub of economic activity, Pakistan offered a policy of liberalisation, deregulation, privatisation and facilitation to promote trade, investment and industry. Punjab being the largest province can blaze a trail in this respect.

The energy and extractive industries as well as agriculture sector in Pakistan hope to gain considerably from the expertise of Polish counterparts as two polish companies are already working in Pakistan’s energy sector and sharing their expertise in gas exploration.

“However, there is much more that can be reaped from a more robust understanding of each other’s potentials, especially in chain stores,” he said. The volume of bilateral trade between the two countries stands around $210 million a year. Poland has helped Pakistani companies open offices in Poland to cater to the regional European market.

Hasnain termed the trade figure very low, believing it could easily go up to $350 million in the next three years if business groups of both sides focused on each other’s markets.

“Our industrialists have not yet explored Polish markets and they are concentrating on old ones. Polish markets can give a lot of opportunities to Pakistani businessmen,” he said.

“They just need to take the initiatives … business groups are not striving hard to grab their due share in Polish markets in textiles, sports goods and surgical instruments.”

He cautioned that Brexit had some serious aftershocks for Pakistan business groups. Brexit refers to the process under which Britain will leave the 28-nation European Union.

“Some queries are coming to me with respect to Poland markets due to Brexit as eastern European labour is cheaper. Pakistan investors are showing interest in establishing manufacturing and trading houses there,” Hasnain added.



He emphasised that he would play an active role in establishing people-to-people contacts between Punjab and Poland in a bid to promote, accelerate, develop and facilitate bilateral relations through trade, commercial and economic activities.

“I will select 20 mature exporters and importers of each sector and create interest in improving trade with Poland,” he remarked.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2017.

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