KARACHI: Consul General of Switzerland Philippe Crevoisier has said that although potential exists but efforts must be made to improve the perception and image of Pakistan in order to transform this potential into success story.
Exchanging views with KCCI Office Bearers during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Swiss Consul General said, “In order to attract more Swiss businesses and investment in Karachi, we will have to concentrate on improving the perception about the security situation of Karachi and the overall image of Pakistan which is of big importance.”
President KCCI Shamim Ahmed Firpo, Senior Vice President KCCI Asif Nisar, Vice President KCCI Muhammad Younus Soomro and KCCI Managing Committee members were also present at the meeting.
Philippe Crevoisier pointed out that Switzerland has been in Pakistan since its existence and many Swiss companies were successfully doing business here in Karachi. “We are being represented not only in Islamabad but also in Karachi which is a very good sign as not so many European countries were not present here. This clearly indicates that we actually see the potential and I am trying to understand how to transform this potential into success story”, he added.
He said that although the existing investment and trade figures between the two countries were very nice but still low which have to be improved but this is not going to be an easy task.
Philippe Crevoisier informed that Switzerland’s industry comprises of 80 percent SMEs which were well-organized to quickly react to numerous markets and they were looking forward to enhance their exports to new markets but unfortunately, Pakistan was not on the priority list of these companies mainly due to the perception.
He was fairly convinced that the overall security situation was much better as compared to the perception. It has improved during the last few years which was likely to encourage many Swiss companies including SMEs to get into this market and look for opportunities.
He said that Karachi holds huge potential for Swiss companies and it was a good sign that many businessmen from Karachi were also eager to do business with Switzerland.
