H.E. Bernhard Schlagheck, the German Ambassador in Pakistan, accompanied by Mr. Christian Boettcher, First Secretary for Economic & Political Affairs at the German Embassy in Islamabad, visited the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry on September 10th. M. Abdul Aleem, OICCI CE/Secretary General, along with Markus Strohmeier, OICCI Management Committee Member and Managing Director Siemens Pakistan Engineering Co. Limited, Faisal Akhtar Managing Director BASF Pakistan Private Limited and Syed Ahmer Hasan, Chief Executive Officer Deutsche Bank AG, welcomed the honorable guests.
The Ambassador discussed and sought the OICCI perspective of the current economic and business situation in Pakistan and participant’s vews on several matters of business interest, which included developing situation of Afghanistan and its impact on businesses, anticipated fallouts of continuing Covid, impact of Pakistan’s fiscal situation on future growth of economy, recent depreciation of Pakistan Rupee, general increase in demand and surge in economic activity, and improving business confidence. He also stressed that it is opportune time for German based companies to consider growing investment avenues in Pakistan and further emphasized that Pakistan government and businesses should also work towards strengthening the trade integration between the two countries.
Messers M. Abdul Aleem, Markus Strohmeier, Faisal Akhtar, Syed Ahmer Hasan shared their viewpoints on all the above matters in detail. OICCI secretary GeneralSG also shared a presentation in respect of OICCI profile, members contribution to the economy, an overview of the Chamber’s recent surveys relating to Business Confidence Index, which shows a dramatic upswing in business confidence across Pakistan, a snapshot of IPR survey 2021 and Security survey 2021, as well as opportunities for FDI growth in the country and identified potentials sectors for investment, highlighting the need for proper coordination to achieve the potential growth.
H.E. Bernhard Schlagheck thanked the OICCI team for sharing the Chamber’s viewpoint on Pakistan’s current economic environment and business potential and expressed his desire to continue working together with OICCI team on areas of mutual interest.