German Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation Svenja Schulze wrapped up her visit to Pakistan with a series of high-profile meetings and site visits in Lahore, focusing on enhancing economic cooperation, especially in the areas of renewable energy and climate resilience.
German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Svenja Schulze toured several key industrial sites in Lahore and Sialkot in the province of Punjab. She focused on sustainable production practices and strengthening economic ties between the two countries, including visits to factories involved in textile and sports equipment production.
Key meetings with Pakistani officials
During her visit, Minister Schulze met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab’s Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz Sharif as well as Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal and IT Minister Shaza Khawaja.
Minister Schulze, delivering greetings from Chancellor Olaf Scholz, reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in trade, investment, and development cooperation.
She expressed Germany’s interest in expanding support for Pakistan’s renewable energy sector and climate resilience efforts. The discussions also focused on enhancing economic cooperation through increased trade, investment, technology transfer, and the export of skilled labor. The German Minister also extended an invitation from Chancellor Scholz for the Pakistani Prime Minister to attend the Hamburg Sustainability Conference in October.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized Pakistan’s dedication to sustainable development, climate change mitigation, and economic growth, outlining his government’s priorities for structural reforms aimed at reviving the economy.
Schulze and Maryam Nawaz engaged in discussions on strengthening German-Pakistani relations, particularly focusing on economic cooperation within Punjab.
Svenja Schulze also discussed Pakistan-Germany economic relations with Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, who highlighted Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to improve labor standards and environmental sustainability in its textile industry, and he sought German support for capacity-building and technical assistance to help Pakistani small and medium enterprises (SMEs) comply with these new regulations.
Key facts on Pakistan-Germany ties
- Germany is Pakistan’s third most important economic partner, with a recent pledge amounting to €163.3 million (over PKR 50 billion).
- Germany’s partnership with Pakistan spans several decades, beginning in 1961.
- Germany has contributed around €3.7 billion (over PKR 1,130 billion) towards Pakistan’s development. In 2023 alone, Germany pledged 163 million Euros (more than 50 crore PKR) for economic cooperation with Pakistan.
- The areas of cooperation are broad, covering professional training, support for small and medium enterprises, healthcare improvements, renewable energy promotion, and climate change adaptation.
Visit to Kohinoor Textile Mills – a supplier from Pakistan for major German brands
The visit also included Minister Schulze’s participation in the Textile Industry Sustainability Forum (TISF), where she discussed work environment improvements, sustainable production methods, and enhancing competitiveness with representatives from the Punjab government, the textile industry, trade unions, and civil society.
She also visited Kohinoor Textile Mills Limited, one of Pakistan’s oldest and largest textile companies, which is a key supplier for Lindström, a leading European textile service company.
Kohinoor Mills provides textile products to renowned global brands such as Zara, Levi’s, American Eagle, Next, Ralph Lauren, and C&A. The company operates a 90-acre state-of-the-art facility in Lahore, where its team of over 1,800 employees produces over 70 million meters of high-quality grey, white, and dyed fabrics annually. The company is involved in three major sectors: Weaving, Dyeing & Finishing, and Energy.
Svenja Schulze toured several other industrial sites in Lahore, including the Inter Market Knit Private Ltd. factory, which produces socks for export to Germany. Additionally, she visited a sustainable market at the Centre for the Improvement of Working Conditions and the Environment (CIWCE), emphasizing Germany’s commitment to sustainable and ethical production practices in Pakistan.
Football factory visit
Emphasizing industrial collaboration, Minister Schulze also visited a Khawaja Industries factory in Sialkot, Punjab, where footballs are produced for Germany’s prestigious football league Bundesliga.
The Minister’s visit underscores Germany’s commitment to deepening its economic ties with Pakistan, particularly in Punjab, through sustainable practices and mutual economic growth.