ISLAMABAD: Many big Swiss companies were doing successful business in various sectors of Pakistan’s economy and more were interested to explore Pakistan as they considered it a promising country for business and investment. Pakistan was making good economic progress and entrepreneurs of both countries have to work together to take bilateral trade to higher levels. This was said by Mr. Roger M. Kull, Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of Switzerland during an interaction with business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He said that Pakistan with a population of over 190 million people held great opportunities and Swiss investors would like to exploit its untapped potential. He said 70 percent of Swiss economy was comprised of SMEs and there was good scope for both countries to strengthen cooperation between their SMEs for achieving mutually beneficial outcomes. He said Pakistani businessmen should visit Switzerland to establish business linkages and explore business collaborations. He said Swiss Business Council and Switzerland Embassy in Pakistan could facilitate Pakistani businessmen in making direct contacts with Swiss counterparts.
Speaking at the occasion, Atif Ikram Sheikh, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that though Pak-Swiss bilateral trade has improved from US$ 89.24 million in 2002-03 to US$ 301.37 million in 2014-15, however, it was far less than the available potential of both countries. He said balance of trade was highly in favor of Switzerland as its exports to Pakistan in 2014-15 were US$ 288.19 million and stressed that more Pakistani products should be given easy access to Swiss market to rationalize trade balance.
He said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was poised to create great opportunities for investors in all important sectors and it was right time that more Swiss companies should come to Pakistan to explore opportunities for investment and joint ventures in areas of interest. He said Swiss technology & machinery of textiles, flour milling and pharmaceutical sectors was quite popular in Pakistan and urged that Swiss manufacturers should set up production plants in more areas in Pakistan to meet our domestic needs and export their products to regional countries. Sheikh Pervez Ahmed Senior Vice President, Sheikh Abdul Waheed Vice President, ICCI and other businessmen also spoke at the occasion and shared ideas for further improving bilateral trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Switzerland.
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