The Federal Minister for Commerce and Investment, Syed Naveed Qamar, said on Thursday that the Netherlands is Pakistan’s second-largest trade partner in the European Union (EU) and a major investor in many of the country’s industries. He was speaking in Karachi.
In a press release here, he talked about how important it is for Pakistan and the Netherlands to work together on trade and investment.
While in The Hague, the minister met with people from the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+), such as Dutch government officials, businesses, trade associations, and civil society groups.
Paul Huijts, who is the Secretary General of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with the minister.
He said that strong ties between Pakistan and the Netherlands were built on mutual respect, trust, and having similar goals.
Naveed Qamar says that since the scheme started in 2014, exports from Pakistan to the Netherlands have gone up by 103%, while exports from the Netherlands to Pakistan have gone up by 107%.
He said that he thought the new GSP Plus rule would keep focusing on the main goals of the program, which are to support sustainable development, get rid of poverty, and improve governance in the countries that get help from it.
Both sides agree that the economic ties between the two countries have been getting better over time. The Secretary General praised the overall positive direction of bilateral relations, which has led to a big increase in trade between the two countries.
Huijts thanked Pakistan for all the help and support it gave the Netherlands as it left Afghanistan.
Naveed Qamar then spoke at a conference about Pakistan’s trade and investment prospects and compliance system. The conference was attended by Dutch companies, investors, trade groups, civil society/non-governmental organizations, and Pakistani companies doing business in the Netherlands.
He told the group about important steps in the process of putting GSP Plus standards into place.
He also talked about the potential for trade and investment, as well as the chance for Dutch and Pakistani businesses to work together.
He asked Dutch companies to look into possible business opportunities in Pakistan in the areas of agriculture, dairy, water management, shipping, and clean energy.
At the end of his trip, the minister talked to Pakistani media about what he had done and who he had met in The Hague.
