PESHAWAR: Ambassador of the European Union in Pakistan, Jean Francois Cautain, has asked the Pakistani businessmen to play proactive role in complete implementation of all the conventions of Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP-Plus) to enable Pakistan reap full benefits of the EU awarded GSP-Plus status.

The EU envoy was addressing a meeting at Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday. SCCI president Faiz Mohammad Faizi, senior vice-president Saad Khan Zahid, vice-president Haris Mufti and others also spoke on the occasion.

According to a statement, the chamber chief in his welcome speech urged the EU to play its role in removal of irritants in the way of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He praised the financial and technical assistance for skill development and in health and education sectors.

SCCI chief lauds EU for assistance in various sectors

Mr Faizi briefed the diplomat about investment opportunities in various sectors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, mainly in honey, pharmaceuticals, marble, hydro power generation, gems and jewellery, oil, ghee, chemical, mineral as well as other important sectors. He urged the foreign companies to make investment in these potential sectors.

The SCCI chief hailed the EU for its vigorous support to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Technical Education and Vocational Training Agency. He also urged the EU to play its role in removal of hurdles in way of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The EU ambassador while speaking on the occasion said that the GSP- Plus would play a major role in increasing Pakistan’s exports to the EU countries which had been extended to Pakistan since Jan 1, 2014, allowing preferential access to Pakistani manufacturing products (mostly zero duties on two-thirds of all product categories) to EU markets. However, he said that Pakistan didn’t take full benefits from the GSP-Plus scheme.

He pledged that the EU, however, would continue extending support to Pakistan to help it fulfill all the conditions of GSP-Plus status. He pointed out that the EU was keen to establish strong trade relations with Pakistan. The SCCI’s executive body members, businessmen, exporters and traders were also present.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2019