Karachi : Renowned industrialist, Atif Iqbal, has stressed that Pakistan needs to employ trade diplomacy on a regional – as well as single-country – basis through targeted, tangible outreach efforts in a 360-degree manner encompassing people-to-people (P2P), business-to-business (B2B) and chamber-to-chamber (C2C) partnerships. The only way forward for the country’s economy is to aggressively tap new export markets and diversify the exports basket, he added.
Atif Iqbal also expressed his desire that the European Union will consider Pakistani pharmaceutical products to be included in its GSP+ program for Pakistan. He elaborated that this can be a game-changer for the economy of Pakistan as it is a huge industry with enormous potential to expand.
It is pertinent to note that *former finance minister, Miftah Ismail,* MNA Dr. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, SVP FPCCI, Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, consul generals and top diplomats of Germany, Malaysia, Indonesia, UAE, Oman, Morocco and Philippines discussed their ideas on economic stabilization in a high-profile iftar dinner session – hosted by Atif Iqbal, who has recently been elected as the Chairman of Pakistan-Philippines Business Council of FPCCI.
H. E. Mr. Andreas Wegner, Deputy Head of German Mission, apprised that social and B2B engagements can unleash new possibilities in trade, investments, JVs, industrial collaborations and social sector uplift. He appreciated that important figures from Pakistan and diplomatic circles gathered to brainstorm the avenues of cooperation.
Miftah Ismail maintained that Pakistan needs reforms that make economic sense as ad hoc arrangements and lack of planning have never delivered the results for Pakistan. He expressed his satisfaction that top diplomats from EU, GCC, Southeast Asia and other countries gathered have friendly concerns and warmth for Pakistan – and, this goodwill can be utilized to promote trade and economic ties.
