Germany flags apparel export stagnation

Envoy says export today is nearly same as a decade ago, calls for diversification

LAHORE:

German Ambassador Ina Lepel has expressed Germany's strong commitment to supporting Pakistan's apparel industry, stressing the need to deepen collaboration to unlock the sector's full export potential, as apparel exports have remained largely stagnant for more than a decade.

The ambassador noted that Pakistan's export figures had shown little progress, observing that the "export volume today is nearly the same as when she last visited the country a decade ago". The stagnation, she said, underscored the urgent need for Pakistan to diversify its export portfolio, move up the value chain and embrace innovation to enhance competitiveness in global markets.

She was speaking at an interactive session with representatives of Pakistan's value-added apparel export industry, currently valued at around $10 billion. The session focused on expanding bilateral trade, fostering private-sector linkages, boosting women's employment and addressing key challenges faced by the industry.

The session was attended by senior industry leaders including PRGMEA North Zone Chairman M Rizwan Zubair, PHMA North Zone Chairman Abdul Hameed and PRGMEA former chairman Ijaz Khokhar. Participants highlighted the immense potential of Pakistan's apparel sector, which plays a vital role in economic growth, employment generation particularly for women and export diversification. With more than 500 member firms and strong participation from small and medium enterprises, Pakistan's garment and hosiery industry remains a major contributor to value-added exports aligned with international market demand.