Swiss SMEs keen to enter Pakistan’s market

MoU signed for increasing bilateral trade, encouraging investment

LAHORE: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of Switzerland are eager to enter Pakistan’s market, said Ambassador of Switzerland Thomas Kolly during a visit to the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT).

Leading a delegation, he discussed the renewal of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Board of Investment and Swiss Business Council for increasing bilateral trade, encouraging investment, augmenting business linkages and facilitating people-to-people contacts.



PBIT Chief Executive Officer Jahanzeb Burana and Swiss Business Council President Farhat Ali signed the MoU.

Briefing the delegation about the initiatives being undertaken by the new government to expand the economy, Burana said the development of social sectors such as health and education was its high priority. Highlighting the rapid development of special economic zones (SEZs) in Punjab, he told the delegation that seven new SEZs would be announced soon, which would offer business-friendly environment and provide immense investment opportunities.

Kolly said Switzerland was among top-five foreign investors in Pakistan and its companies were actively involved in a host of sectors. Nestle, Archroma, ABB Group, Novartis, Sika AG, Clariant and Gate Gourmet are amongst major Swiss investors in Pakistan. Talking about the business environment, Kolly said Pakistan had a suitable environment for small and medium enterprises of Switzerland.



He announced that a representative of Swiss Global Enterprises (SGE) would visit Pakistan in December and meet representatives of different sectors like food processing, pharmaceuticals and SMEs.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17^th, 2018.

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