Dutch Ambassador for more Pak-Dutch partnership to catch GSP plus benefits

KARACHI: Ambassador of Netherlands to Pakistan Ms. Jeannette Seppen has stressed that Netherlands and Pakistan should work together to get maximum benefits from GSP plus granted by European Union as it offers tremendous opportunities to both the countries.

" We can only encourage Pakistani traders to work closely with the government and all other stakeholders in the field of trade to ensure that all 27 conventions attached to GSP plus are really implemented," she said in a meeting with members of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) at the Chamber.

According to KCCI statement here on Monday, Chairman Businessmen Group and former president KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli, Senior Vice Chairman BMG Anjum Nisar, President KCCI Shamim Ahmed Firpo, Senior Vice President KCCI Asif Nisar, Vice President KCCI Muhammad Younus Soomro, Chairman Diplomatic Missions and Embassies Liaison Sub-Committee Altaf A. Ghaffar, former president KCCI Majyd Aziz and KCCI Managing Committee members were also present.

Dutch Ambassador said that some well reputable international and Dutch NGOs were also here to support Pakistan on women rights, freedom of expression and a number of other issues, particularly the labor rights and labor condition which was an issue that was very close to our hearts.

She underscored the need to make collective efforts to raise Pakistan's image abroad and make this country an even more attractive market to buy from.

Highlighting the Dutch interest in different sectors, she pointed out that there was a tremendous potential to enhance trade and investment cooperation and work together in the agriculture, dairy, livestock, horticulture, shipping, ports, maritime infrastructure, water management and the energy sector. These were a few fields where Pakistan and Netherlands could grow a lot together. A lot was already going on and a lot more could be done, which was our firm conviction, she added.

She said that Netherlands was very serious in enhancing trade ties with the business and industrial community of Karachi as this city had many similarities with Netherlands.

Many Dutch multinational companies including shipping companies were successfully operating from Karachi who have been the fantastic ambassadors of Netherlands whereas Dutch dredgers were also engaged in carrying out dredging at the Port Qasim.

" Our ties go way back and there is a bright future ahead of us as we find ourselves in a very favorable environment", she added.

Jeannette Seppen said that in spite of some pessimism, trade balance between Pakistan and the Netherlands remained very positive. This was very remarkable in the current economic circumstances.

Chairman Businessmen Group and former president KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli, while commenting on current Pakistan-Netherlands trade ties, stressed that these ties should improve further and must get better. This could be done through more collaborations and more exchanges of delegations.

Chairman BMG further advised the Dutch Ambassador to set some targets with particular focus on raising the existing trade volume during her tenure in Pakistan by work collectively with Karachi Chamber which would prove beneficial for both the countries.

President KCCI Shamim Ahmed Firpo said Pakistan and Netherlands had been enjoying good trade relations as Pakistan's export to Netherlands, during fiscal year 2015-16, was recorded at dollars 555 million while its imports from Netherlands stood at $619 million.

He also invited the Dutch companies to participate in "My Karachi: Oasis of Harmony" exhibition scheduled to be organized in the month of April next year.

The exhibition would provide an excellent opportunity to the Dutch business and industrial community to showcase their products and create strong linkages with their counterparts in Karachi.