Rawalpindi, August 19, 2026: German Ambassador to Pakistan Ina Lepel has reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to strengthening economic relations with Pakistan, as business leaders called for new institutional mechanisms to facilitate trade, investment and business-to-business cooperation between the two countries.
Ambassador Lepel made the remarks during her visit to the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), where she was received by RCCI President Usman Shaukat, Senior Vice President Khalid Farooq Qazi, Vice President Fahad Barlas, members of the Executive Committee and representatives of various business sectors.
Welcoming the ambassador, RCCI President Usman Shaukat proposed the establishment of a German Trade Desk in Pakistan to help Pakistani companies explore new markets, identify business opportunities and develop stronger commercial linkages with German counterparts.
He also proposed the creation of a Pakistan-Germany Joint Chamber of Commerce to promote networking, information sharing and business-to-business cooperation.
Shaukat highlighted a range of sectors offering significant potential for bilateral cooperation, including agriculture and agri-tech, IT and software development, fintech, smart and energy-efficient construction, pharmaceuticals, gems and minerals, mining and value addition, as well as SME development.
He said Germany remained Pakistan’s largest trading partner within the European Union, with bilateral trade exceeding $2.5 billion. Pakistan’s exports to Germany are estimated at around $1.7 billion, while imports stand at approximately $880 million, resulting in a trade balance in Pakistan’s favour.
The RCCI president also appreciated Germany’s continued support for Pakistan under the GSP+ framework, which he said had contributed significantly to the growth of Pakistani exports to European markets.
During an interactive session with members of the business community, Ambassador Ina Lepel reaffirmed Germany’s interest in expanding economic cooperation with Pakistan, particularly in climate change, healthcare and social protection, private sector development, and vocational and technical education.
She stressed the importance of connecting Pakistani small and medium-sized enterprises with international markets through participation in global trade fairs and encouraged businesses to adopt sustainable and environmentally friendly production practices.
The ambassador also appreciated the resilience of Pakistan’s business community and underscored the importance of continued engagement on matters related to the GSP+ framework.
Both sides agreed on the need to expand trade and investment, encourage technology transfer and strengthen direct business-to-business linkages to create new opportunities for sustainable economic growth and mutually beneficial cooperation.
