LAHORE: Dr Michael Koch, Ambassador of Germany, has said Germany
being world leader in renewable energy, is ready to extend cooperation
to Pakistan in bridging gap between demand and supply as it is at the
moment passing through worst energy crisis.
The German
Ambassador was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry
on Wednesday. LCCI President Shahzad Ali Malik, Senior Vice President
Sheikh Mohammad Arshad and Vice President Sohail Azharalso spoke on the
occasion.
The Ambassador said that renewable energy sources
could help protect Pakistan government against cost increases as has
recently been experienced in case of crude oil. He said that Pakistan
could avail German expertise for installation renewable energy projects
to overcome acute energy shortage it is facing now-a-days.
On
the trade between Pakistan and Germany, the Ambassador said that
concerted efforts were being made to take the two-way trade volume to
new heights and in coming days the situation would take a positive
turn. He said German market open for investment in practically
allindustry sectors, and business activities are free from regulations
restricting day-to-day business. He said German laws make no
distinction between Germans and foreign nationals regarding investment
or the establishment of companies. Therefore Pakistani businessmen
could initiate joint ventures with their German counterparts.
While
terming the vocational training as cornerstone of economic development
of any country, the Ambassador said that Germany is and would continue
to extend every possible help to Pakistan for strengthening of its
human resource.
He said that Pakistan’s agriculture sector has
a very huge potential as Pakistani fruits are best of the best in the
world. He said that Pakistan could earn much-needed foreign exchange by
exporting its fruits to Germany.
The Ambassador emphasized the
need for a rapid exchange of delegations and a frequent interaction
among the business communities of the two countries to give
considerable boost to foreign direct investment in Pakistan. Speaking
on the occasion, the LCCI President said that continuous fall in
bilateral trade is calling for appropriate sector-specific,
result-oriented measures by both the countries as the existing volume
of $1.9 billion has no match to the great potential of business the two
countries have.
He said Pakistan’s exports have come down from
$ 880 million in 2008 to $ 719 million in 2009 whereas the similar
trend has been noticed in imports from Germany which fell from $ 1.47
billion to $ 1.27 billion in the same period of time. The LCCI
President said that Pakistan offers a great potential for foreign
investment. It has a strategic location with abundant raw materials.
Any
investment made in Pakistan will automatically find its way to the
regional countries which goes to the extent of Commonwealth of
Independent States famously known as CIS countries. Today, Pakistan is
severely hit by a horrifying energy crisis that has badly affected its
industrial sector. "We have never been as much in need for renewable
energy sources as today."
Shahzad Ali Malik said that Germany
is meeting its energy needs with no trouble by using wind technology
and solar electricity systems installed all across the country in
addition to hydel resources. In this scenario, he said, Pakistan
presents a huge scope for German investors to set up projects of
producing alternate energy.
He said that the other important
sectors where German investors can benefit a lot are
telecommunications, oil & gas exploration, food & food
processing, cold chain system, agriculture tractors & machinery,
dairy processing & equipment, engineering and services etc.
Moreover, Pakistan largely produces the finest quality of rice, fruits,
vegetable, leather goods, fish, textile products, readymade garments,
bed linen etc. These products can find good markets in the member
countries of European Union that surround Germany.
Apart from
trade and investment, the other area where Pakistan can benefit from
German experience of economic growth is organizing international fairs
and exhibitions as Germany has acquired the status of a world leader in
this connection.
Shahzad Ali Malik said that the LCCI
appreciates that the German skill development infrastructures like GTZ
has been quite active in passing on technical knowledge to the
Pakistani industry in both formal and informal way. On the same
pattern, LCCI wants to expand this cooperation in the field of Human
Resource Development. Considering the educated youth of Pakistan,
Germany can establish more such institutes here to train them to
fulfill the manpower requirement of their own country at much
competitive rates. Online
