SMEs have made Sialkot most important business centre of country: German envoy

SIALKOT: German Ambassador Bern Hard Schlagheck has said that the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of Sialkot have turned the industrial city into the most important business centre of Pakistan.

He said this while addressing industrialists and exporters at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Thursday. He further said that the unique and thriving culture of SMEs in Sialkot had considerably helped the local community of industrialists and exporters in strengthening the bases of their businesses and earning valuable foreign exchange, besides promoting trade.

The ambassador said that several businessmen and frequent travellers from Sialkot were facing issues in getting German visas. He said that the visa section of the embassy in Islamabad had been facing systematic problem, which would be redressed soon.

He added that facilitation in the process of visa issuance was in the best interest of Germany and Pakistan as it was important to promote bilateral trade. He said that efforts were under way to reorganise the system in the embassy to minimise the issues for visa applicants. SCCI president Malik Muhammad Ashraf appreciated the role of Germany in extension of the GSP Plus status for Pakistan.