ISLAMABAD, OCT 26 /DNA/ – Ambassador of the European Union Dr. Riina Kionka has called for effective implementation of the 27 international conventions as the Pakistan’s present GSP Plus status is going to be reviewed in Dec 2023 and more labour and human rights conventions will be added for their implementation.

The European Union Ambassador stated this during her visit to a number of garments’ manufacturing units along with the PRGMEA executive committee members, Central Chairman Mubashar Naseer Butt and vice chairman Waseem Akhtar Khan where she also appreciated their performance, calling for product diversity and more value-addition to exploit the full potential of market access to the countries under GSP Plus present regime.

Later in a meeting held here at PRGMEA Office, both sides discussed in detail the role of SME sector in economic growth, technical education, skills development, EU support for Pakistan in TVET sector and promotion of women skilled force.

The PRGMEA and the EU agreed to work on women entrepreneurship, better labour laws and promotion of SME sector along with other projects. The ambassador discussed various ideas for providing support to the SME sector, with the focus on creating linkages within the EU to open new markets for the products.

Dr. Riina Kionka said that the EU is the biggest export market for Pakistani goods, as it accounts for about one-third of all Pakistani exports. She said the EU can assist Pakistan to expand its exports and uplift its industry through collaboration with the PRGMEA. The Ambassador appreciated the role of PRGMEA in boosting industrial activities in the region and added that her embassy would be in touch with the it to increase the bilateral ties.

Other participants of the meeting included PRGMEA ex-chairman Sajid Saleem Minhas, Dr. Mufeez ul Islam, Ahmad Hanif, Irfan Khurshid, Muhammad Ali and Hina Asif.

Addressing the meeting, PRGMEA Central Chairman Mubashar Naseer Butt and vice chairman Waseem Akhtar Khan said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its partnership with the European Union, as the European Union is one of the largest trading partners of Pakistan.

PRGMEA Central Chairman said that GSP+ has increased EU-Pakistan bilateral trade; valued at €12.2 billion 2021 as compared to €6.9 billion, representing an increase of 78%.

Mubashar Butt said that the GSP Plus status is very beneficial for the economy of Pakistan as it has played an important role in the expansion of bilateral trade. He said that trade with EU under GSP+ is of critical importance for Pakistan’s economic and social stability and prosperity. He said that GSP Plus is a constructive engagement for the betterment of our economy and promoting economic agenda. The scheme has a positive synergy with government’s social agenda. As a result of improved market access, Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for Pakistan’s exports to EU increased to 7% in the post GSP+ period as compared to 4% in the 5 years preceding GSP.

On this occasion, PRGMEA vice chairman Waseem Akhtar observed that the GSP Plus benefits to Pakistan are the tariff free access to the largest market for textile and apparel and a solid platform and incentive structure to drive further reforms in the industry and the country. In the same way, the benefits to EU are reliable, cost competitive supply of textiles to EU businesses and consumers and a sustainable, ethical and increasingly traceable textile value chain. EU-Pakistan GSP+ relationship has the power to transform Pakistan’s economy and society while delivering on EU goals, he added.

Mubashar Butt said that Pakistan’s textile and apparel industry is the backbone of the economy, constituting 8.5% of GDP, 40% of the industrial labor force and more than 60% of the country’s exports while it’s manufacturing share is 46%. The export of readymade garments exhibited an increase of 28.75% to $3.9 billion during fiscal year 2021-2022 compared with $3.03 billion in the preceding fiscal year. The Value-added Garments sector is the major tax payer, largest employment generator in the whole textile chain.

Islamabad, OCT 26 /DNA/ – Rotary Club of Islamabad Metropolitan arranged a special talk on “Pak German collaboration to help communities in need” at a local hotel. Alfred Grannas Ambassador Federal Republic of Germany was the guest speaker.

Mr. Imran Ghaznavi President RC Islamabad Metropolitan welcomed the guest speaker and emphasized the importance of international collaborations in helping the communities in need across Pakistan, specially in flood hit areas. The importance of clean drinking water was highlighted and efforts of the club in this regard were elaborated.

Former Ambassador Fouzia Nasreen introduced the German Ambassador, gave brief history of the club and elaborated the avenues of collaboration in the field of clean drinking water, health care and twining of German Rotary clubs with Pakistani Club to promote fellowship.

His Excellency the German Ambassador, Alfred Grannas spoke about Germany’s contribution to flood relief efforts in Pakistan. He revealed that 70 million euros have been given to Pakistan by Germany in the form of humanitarian aid. However, the reason why the German flag is not visible in the flood relief effort is because in the interest of efficiency, the assistance is given to professional and established humanitarian organizations as these have better coordination at the grassroots levels. “It is not important to be visible, it is important to be efficient,” he said.

His Excellency emphasized that this giving in times of need is not an act of charity, rather it is an obligation to those in need by those who have.  Pakistan’s floods, in particular, are a consequence of climate change which affects the whole world, and we are all in it together.

He noted that as Germany has been with Pakistan in Pakistan’s time of need during the floods, Germany will also be there for reconstruction. He emphasized, however, that it would be Pakistan and Pakistanis who will decide how to best prioritize their reconstruction effort.

His Excellency also noted that it has been 70 years of diplomatic relations for Germany, and the country has helped others in development for the last 60 years. He highlighted some areas of activity that Germany has prioritized, namely Polio eradication efforts which have been a priority of the German Development Corporation, and improvement of governance, especially with respect to public health insurance.

His Excellency recognized that the relationship between Pakistan and Germany has certainly not been one-sided. “We also go away with enhanced knowledge,” he said.  “We also go away enriched.”  He emphasized that the Pakistan-German cooperation is for mutual benefit, and there has always been a lot for Germany to learn from Pakistan, especially now since the challenge for all nations is to continue to industrialize and remain industrialized in a new age of energy.

The affable and cordial talk by His Excellency inspired many questions and comments from members of the host Rotary Club Islamabad Metropolitan.

 Secretary Of the Club Dr Azra Yasmin thanked the German Ambassdor for his candid talk.

German Ambassador was pin up and shield was presented to him by the President Imran Ghaznavi.

Ambassador of Romania Nicolae Goia acknowledged the excellent professionalism of the Pakistani army

Asnar M Bhatti

ISLAMABAD:   Ambassador of Romania Nicolae Goia has said   Romanian Armed Forces, completely reformed and modernized up to the NATO and European Union standards are assigned to foreign missions, contributing alongside of the allied and partner countries to the common effort of keeping peace and stability worldwide.

 In compliance with the commitments deriving from the international treaties, agreements and memoranda whose signing party is, Romania had contingents of different sizes from all services – Army, Air and Naval Forces – available to multinational coalitions authorized to carry on peace support, humanitarian assistance, collective or individual operations in the framework of UN, NATO, OSCE and EU-led Observing, Monitoring, Liaison and Training teams.

Ambassador Goia expressed these views while speaking on the occasion of the Armed Forces Day of Romania. He along with Defence Attache Col Cristian Raducu hosted a reception. Mal Gen Fiaz Hussain Shah was the chief guest.

The ambassador further said Romania celebrates each year, on October 25^th, the Day of the Romanian Army. October 25, 1944, the Romanian Army Day, signifies the date of complete liberation of north-western Transylvania from foreign ruling and administration.

‘The liberation of the entire national territory of Romania was achieved by the heroic fights in the World War II of over 525,000 fully employed troops between August 23 and October 25, 1944. Nearly 58,000 of them were killed or injured. Losses incurred on the enemy stood at 89,934 troops, 76,275 of whom were taken prisoners. It is worth mentioning that after 25^th of October the Romanian army had continued to fight until the end of the war contributing substantially to the liberation of Hungary and Czechoslovakia’.

Ambassador Goia said, the years of contribution to foreign missions meant for the Romanian Armed Forces the maintenance, almost continuously, of a military force of variable sizes, integrated into UN, OSCE, NATO and EU missions carried out in Africa and Asia, in the theatres of operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Western Balkans. Almost 40,000 Romanian troops took part in different operations and missions out of national borders, gathering a valuable professional experience extremely useful in the transformation, operationalization and interoperability enhancement process of the Romanian Armed Forces with their NATO and EU counterparts.

Romanian Armed forces wisely and skilfully planned their combat forces to fight the war on terror far away from the national borders, proving their capability and determination to fully carry out their missions. Romania remained consistent with its commitments to support the international community in the fight against terror.

The contribution of the Romanian troops to the collective defence, peace keeping and restoration missions to enforce the stipulations of the UN Security Council Resolutions, of the international legislation and law reveals that the Romanian state complies consequently and in full faith with the commitments agreed with the allies and partners, according to the international legislation and treaties whose signing party is Romania. By performance and professionalism, dedication and determination, the Romanian Armed Forces are a true ambassador for Romania’s image worldwide!

He said, unfortunately, we are living in a very complicated security environment. The world of today, the security challenges we have to deal with every day, along with the war going on at NATO and EU borders, as well as Romania’s border with Ukraine – all these prove that we need to be ready to defend our common values and freedoms and grant security and stability. Moreover, Ukraine’s security means European and Euro-Atlantic security.

In line with the NATO and European Union’s policy, Romania stands in full solidarity with the people and government of Ukraine in the heroic defence of their country, helping Ukraine to uphold its fundamental right to self-defence with unprecedented levels of support as a response of Russia’s full-scale, brutal, unprovoked and unlawful invasion of Ukraine

 ‘I am very pleased to underline the excellent cooperation existing between Romanian and Pakistani armies which have developed over the years into a true and mutual beneficial partnership. Since there is not time to elaborate on the multifaceted and complex character of the cooperation, I will only mention that on October 12^th this year, during his official visit in Romania, the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi performed symbolically the initial welding work on the keel of the third vessel built for Pakistani Navy at Damen Shipyard Galati and cut the first plates of steel for the construction of the second batch two Damen OPV 2600 multi mission patrol vessels’.

Ambassador Goia said those vessels will provide the Pakistan Navy with a highly effective search and rescue capability, and allow it to play an important role in safeguarding international trade routes from piracy and other threats like drugs and human trafficking and terrorism.

‘Also, between 10-12 November, the 3^rd session of Joint Military Committee will take place in Bucharest and I am sure that during this activity new domains of cooperation will be identified’. 

He acknowledged the excellent professionalism of the Pakistani army, the deep patriotism of its men and women in uniforms, the sacrifices they made in fighting terrorism, their presence in multiple international coalitions authorized to participate in maintaining peace, humanitarian assistance and other operations meant to ease the sufferings of the people in different regions of the world, he added.