Bilateral ties: Germany, Pakistan going strong

Envoy speaks on the success of Pakistani exports to the EU .

ISLAMABAD: Commenting on the swiftly developing business ties between Germany and Pakistan, German Ambassador to Islamabad Dr Cyrill Nunn said Friday that granting of the GSP Plus status to Pakistan has had an “extremely positive” impact on its exports to the EU, which had increased by 20% in the last year. 

Pakistani exports to the EU had fetched $1.3 billion foreign exchange hence, the impact of GSP Plus on Islamabad’s exports has not only increased income but demand has also increased.

If its exporters were provided uninterrupted power supply they would increase further, he told APP in an interview here.

“I would say that if the energy crisis was resolved Pakistan’s capacity to export more would enhance. I think energy restrictions are limiting the capacity of the export business mainly textiles,” he said.

Acknowledging expertise of the Pakistani textile businessmen, he said, “They are very clever at circumventing many difficulties they face which I have a lot of respect for - they are very good at finding solutions.”



Nunn said exports of Pakistani goods, textiles and leather garments had registered a significant increase since 2014.

Questioned about talks of auto giant Volkswagen investing in Pakistan, the envoy said that a high ranking member of the company was a part of the German business delegation that concluded its visit to Pakistan recently.

“There is an interest in the market, however, for the rest of the information I would say we have to ask the company.”

He said there were two important delegation visits to Germany that could be instrumental for future relations.

The first business delegation will be headed by Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir, but the dates were yet to be decided. The second business delegation to visit Germany would be from Sindh.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2015.

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