Heimtextil-2023: Visa denial to rob exporters of orders worth millions of dollars

KARACHI: Pakistan is likely to lose export orders worth millions of dollars because a number of exporters intending to attend the well-known trade fair in Germany — the Heimtextil-2023 — have either been denied visas by the German Embassy or are facing delays.

Official sources at the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) — the sole export promotion body in the country — have confirmed that the German Embassy has refused visas to some exporters out of a total of 260 Pakistani companies participating in Heimtextil-2023.

The exhibition is dedicated to the textile sector of Europe and is scheduled to be held from January 10 to Jan 13 in Frankfurt. The sources, however, said that the matter has been taken up with the authorities concerned at the ‘highest level’ and hoped that the issue would be resolved before the commencement of the renowned trade fair.

“This show has great significance for Pakistan’s export sector. Refusal of visa issuance to the exporters will result in a loss of billions of dollars for the already dollar-starved country,” said Shabbir Hassan Mansha Chura, the vice president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), while talking to Business Recorder.

Meanwhile, in a letter sent to federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, FPCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh said: “I am writing to you as the saviour of last resort that Pakistani textile exporters are facing issues in visa processing to Germany to attend Heimtextil.”

He said that the country’s apex trade body has received numerous intimations that Pakistani exporters are facing non-issuance, objections or delays in the processing of visas. Heimtextil is one of the world’s foremost exhibitions and textiles are the mainstay of Pakistani exports. Non-participation of local exporters at the event will be a huge loss to the country.

Irfan Sheikh urged the minister to swiftly initiate the necessary communications; in collaboration with the foreign minister with the German ambassador to resolve the problem as soon as possible.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023