Spanish trade delegation to visit Pakistan to exploit brewing opportunities

The FCCI (Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry) Trade Delegation last year visited Spain. As follow up the Spanish trade delegation would be visiting Faisalabad in September 2015. Suprio Bose, Managing Director ACCIO Barcelona disclosed this while addressing the members of FCCI on Saturday.

He said that Catalonia is the important commercial and industrial region of Spain which is strategically located having historic trade linkages with Europe, North America and Eurasia. The Barcelona is well connected with safe and reliable communication network of roads and rail and is most suitable for entire range of economic activities. This region contributes 23 percent towards the GDP of Spain. He further pointed out six major sectors of Spain economy including Renewable energy, treatment of waste water, automobiles, bio-technology, pharma, R&D, food processing and space technology. Spain can help Pakistan in developing its industrial sector on modern scientific lines with technology transfer.

He also proposed that Pakistani textile manufacturers could set up their warehouses in Barcelona to penetrate into the entire region. These warehouses could be established independently or in collaboration with Spanish businessmen as joint ventures. Most of the Spanish business firms are owned by families and hence there are bright prospectus for co-operation between them.

Suprio Bose expressing satisfaction with the recent improvement in business environment in Pakistan and said that it was high time for foreign investors to fully exploit brewing opportunities and hence Spanish delegation is visiting Pakistan.

He also appreciated a proposal of Mian Javed Iqbal, former President FCCI to set up working groups to negotiate the opportunities available for promotion of bilateral trade between the two countries. He said that the visit of Spanish delegation will not only open new avenues for bilateral trade but also help in dispelling the negative perception of Pakistan. Suprio also mentioned his meeting with Mian Muhammad Adrees, President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry and said that it proved very productive and will certainly help in making the visit of Spanish delegation successful.

He welcomed the proposal of Engr. Rizwan Ashraf, President FCCI to hold a conference on Renewable Energy during the upcoming visit of Spanish Delegation and that he would fully examine and discuss this proposal at an appropriate forum.

Engineer Rizwan Ashraf President FCCI in his address of welcome briefed Suprio Bose about the economic and strategic importance of Faisalabad and role of FCCI in promotion of trade. He thanked Suprio for the Spanish support in awarding GSP-Plus status to Pakistan, as a result of this facility Pak export to EU countries recorded a phenomenal increase of one Billion US Dollars during 2014.

President FCCI also pointed out the strategic location of Pakistan and said that Spain could develop its exports to eastern china, northern India and Central Asian Estates via Pakistan.

Engineer Rizwan Ashraf it is right time for Spanish businessmen to invest and earn maximum profit. He also asked Suprio to make arrangements to hold a conference on renewable energy resources during the schooled visit of Spanish trade delegation in September. This conference could be arranged by FCCI in collaboration with Spanish firms.

The meeting was also attended by Suhail Anjum Ansari President Sahiwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, senior vice president Nadeem Allahwala, Chaudhry Muhammad Boota, Rana Ikramullah Khan, Faizer Nawaz Faizi, Sheikh Ibrar Ahmed and Rana Sikandar-e-Azam in addition to the officials from Trade Development Authority of Pakistan.