EU envoy, FPCCI chief discuss avenues for trade expansion

Karachi: Raimundas Karoblis, the Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan, met with Atif Ikram Sheikh, the President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), to discuss ways of expanding trade between the two nations. The discussions aimed at strengthening industrial linkages, preparing the private sector for the upcoming cycle of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+), and improving compliance with human and labor welfare conventions in Pakistan.

The Ambassador emphasized the importance of adhering to international sustainability conventions, while highlighting the EU’s commitment to Pakistan’s sustainable economic development. GSP+ remains a key growth engine for Pakistan, according to the EU envoy.

Atif Ikram Sheikh stated that the meeting brought together diplomats and FPCCI members to examine strategies for diversifying Pakistan’s export basket. He noted that the European Union is one of Pakistan’s most vital trading and development partners, and the preferential tariff regime under GSP+ has helped expand Pakistan’s exports to the European single market by over 108 percent over the past decade.

FPCCI is focusing on transforming traditional buyer-seller transactions into long-term technology transfer partnerships, particularly in sectors like renewable energy, digital services, high-value textile manufacturing, and agro-processing.

Senior Vice President of FPCCI, Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, highlighted the need for tangible economic interventions to help local industries fully benefit from trade pacts and resist global supply chain volatility. Zubair Baweja, Head of FPCCI’s Pak-EU Business Forum, explained the mechanisms being implemented to establish lasting B2B linkages between European buyers and Pakistani exporters.