APBF holds interactive session with EU envoy to strengthen trade, investment ties
ISLAMABAD, SEP 20 /DNA/ – European Union Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis has said there is significant potential to expand economic and commercial relations between Pakistan and the European Union, stressing the need to enhance exports, attract investment and strengthen business-to-business cooperation.
He was speaking at an interactive session hosted by the All Pakistan Business Forum (APBF), where the two sides discussed bilateral trade, investment, joint ventures, GSP+ market access, SME development and emerging regulatory requirements in the European market.
Karoblis said the GSP+ framework continued to provide Pakistani exporters with preferential access to the European market and offered opportunities to increase exports through product diversification and greater value addition. He emphasised closer interaction between Pakistani and European businesses to identify new areas of commercial cooperation.
The ambassador said the EU was keen to strengthen investment and business linkages with Pakistan, particularly in sectors where Pakistani companies could develop competitive products and services. He said closer private-sector cooperation could create opportunities for investment, technology transfer and joint ventures.
Ambassador Karoblis thanked APBF for hosting the meeting and appreciated the detailed interaction with representatives of Pakistan’s business community. He expressed commitment to strengthening engagement with APBF and exploring practical avenues for expanding bilateral trade and investment.
The meeting was attended by APBF President Syed Maaz Mahmood, Secretary General and Lahore Board President Amir Munir Malik, Mian Faheem Qamar, Haroon Ali Khan, Shahzad Azam, Brigadier (R) M. Sajid Khokhar, Nasir Ali Zia, Aziz Ullah Goheer, M. Naeem and other business representatives.
APBF President Syed Maaz Mahmood said Pakistan’s business community wanted stronger and more practical economic engagement with the EU, particularly through business-to-business (B2B) contacts and joint ventures.
He stressed the need to promote investment and joint ventures in textile value-addition, information technology and technology services, renewable energy and other emerging sectors. He also called for special support for SMEs to meet European certification and documentation requirements and benefit fully from GSP+ market access.
Maaz Mahmood said SMEs formed a major part of Pakistan’s economic base but many smaller businesses faced difficulties in meeting costly international certifications and increasingly stringent compliance requirements. Technical assistance and easier access to information, he said, could help Pakistani SMEs enter European supply chains and expand exports.
The APBF president also briefed the EU envoy on the forum’s initiatives to develop business linkages between Pakistani enterprises and international markets. He said APBF was ready to facilitate direct interaction between Pakistani and European businesses through B2B meetings, sector-specific linkages and joint ventures.
APBF Secretary General and Lahore Board President Amir Munir Malik welcomed the EU ambassador and his team and opened the interactive session.
APBF members shared sector-specific views and highlighted challenges faced by SMEs in complying with international standards, obtaining certifications and completing documentation required for foreign markets.
Participants said stronger technical cooperation with European institutions could help Pakistani companies improve production standards, meet environmental and social requirements and become more competitive in international supply chains. They also identified renewable energy and technology services as potential areas for deeper cooperation.
The participants agreed on the importance of continued dialogue between the EU and Pakistan’s private sector to translate market access opportunities into increased exports, investment, technology cooperation and sustainable business partnerships.=DNA
