RAWALPINDI (special crosspondent) – The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Pakistan, H.E. Ina Lepel, visited the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (RCCI) to discuss avenues for deepening economic cooperation. She was warmly welcomed by RCCI President Usman Shaukat, Senior Vice President Khalid Farooq Qazi, Vice President Fahad Barlas, members of the Executive Committee, and representatives from various business sectors.

In his welcome address, RCCI President Usman Shaukat called for the establishment of a German Trade Desk in Pakistan to facilitate local companies and entrepreneurs in exploring new markets, identifying business opportunities, and developing stronger commercial linkages with Germany. He also proposed the creation of a Pakistan–Germany Joint Chamber of Commerce to enhance networking, information sharing, and business-to-business cooperation, similar to strategic efforts to improve global diplomatic and commercial ties.

Shaukat highlighted significant opportunities for collaboration across several sectors, including agriculture and agri-tech, IT and software development, fintech, smart and energy-efficient construction, pharmaceuticals, gems and minerals, mining, value addition, and SME development. He stated that Germany remains Pakistan’s largest trading partner within the European Union, with bilateral trade volume exceeding US$2.5 billion. Current figures show Pakistan’s exports to Germany at approximately US$1.7 billion, while imports from Germany stand at roughly US$880 million, reflecting a trade balance in Pakistan’s favour. He further expressed appreciation for Germany’s consistent support for the GSP+ framework, which has been instrumental in boosting Pakistan’s export capacity.

During an interactive session with the business community, Ambassador Ina Lepel reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to strengthening bilateral economic relations. She underscored the importance of cooperation in areas such as climate change, health and social protection, private sector development, and technical and vocational education. The Ambassador highlighted the necessity of connecting Pakistani SMEs with global markets through participation in international trade fairs and the adoption of sustainable, eco-friendly production practices. Acknowledging the resilience of the local business community, she noted that continued dialogue would be essential to address ongoing regional economic matters. Both sides concluded that furthering investment and technology transfer would create new avenues for sustainable growth and mutual prosperity, echoing the importance of collaborative initiatives similar to those discussed in recent bilateral agricultural and development forums.