Anna Lippel, the German Ambassador to Pakistan, visited the FPCCI Capital Office for talks with Atif Akram Sheikh, President FPCCI. The meeting included FPCCI Vice President Tariq Jadoon, Chairman Capital Office Karim Aziz Malik, Chairman Coordination Malik Sohail Hussain, Mian Akram Fareed and other business leaders to discuss deeper economic ties.
The delegation explored ways to expand trade, investment and industrial cooperation. Atif Akram Sheikh stressed that Germany, as Europe’s largest economy, is a key partner and that current bilateral trade of around $3.5 billion is far below both countries’ potential. Strengthening Germany Pakistan trade was highlighted as a priority for sustainable growth.
Speakers reviewed the current trade mix: Pakistan’s exports to Germany include textiles, garments, leather goods, sports equipment, footwear and surgical instruments, while imports from Germany mainly consist of machinery, chemical products, pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment and motor vehicles. Participants agreed that diversifying and upgrading exports could significantly increase bilateral volumes.
The meeting identified immediate opportunities for joint projects in IT, renewable energy, value-added textiles, agricultural products and food processing. FPCCI invited German companies to consider joint ventures, industrial partnerships and vocational training programmes in Pakistan, noting that more than 40 German firms already operate locally and contribute to employment and technology transfer.
Both sides underlined Germany’s strengths in engineering, automation, green energy and advanced manufacturing and said technology transfer could boost Pakistan’s industrial output and job creation. Priority collaboration sectors named were automotive, renewable energy, vocational training, agricultural technology and support for SMEs to foster inclusive economic growth.
FPCCI urged the German Embassy to streamline visa processes for Pakistani business delegations to ease trade missions and exchanges. Ambassador Lippel said Germany wants to deepen economic and trade relations, with German companies interested in green energy, industrial technology, vocational training and digitalisation. She also noted plans to raise the number of Pakistani students studying in Germany to between 6,000 and 10,000.
The ambassador highlighted a new climate and technical cooperation package for Pakistan covering 2025–2027, while FPCCI leaders recalled Germany’s earlier €114 million development package announced last year. Both sides agreed that regular trade delegations, joint exhibitions and business forums would strengthen commercial links and accelerate growth in Germany Pakistan trade.
