Spanish ambassador to Pakistan Carlos Aragon has said the two countries should focus heavily on establishing direct flights to give bilateral trade a major boost. He made the remarks while addressing the business community at the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI).
Aragon also promised to speed up visa processing so that business community visas could be issued on a top-priority basis without unnecessary delays. He said the Spanish government’s main priorities are women’s empowerment, reducing the effects of climate change and promoting the circular economy, and that these areas offer scope for cooperation with Pakistan.
Spanish priorities for cooperation with Pakistan
Aragon said Spain was working to strengthen women’s empowerment in collaboration with the United Nations. He pointed to a UNICEF-funded project launched in Punjab to provide young girls with training and skills, and said he was optimistic that its first phase would be completed by the end of the current year.
He said the second phase would begin after the first one ends. Aragon added that bilateral relations could grow further through air connectivity, visa facilitation, women’s empowerment, the circular economy, textile recycling and higher education. He also offered Spain’s support for Pakistan’s renewable energy sector.
Circular economy, textile recycling and student links
On the circular economy, Aragon said Spain has a national-level strategy introduced four to five years ago. He acknowledged that there is no formal agreement with Pakistan in this area, but said some Spanish companies are exporting textile recycling machinery to Pakistan.
On education, he said Spanish universities offer strong opportunities for Pakistani students to develop their careers. He added that Pakistani alumni of Spanish universities could help promote Pakistan’s soft image internationally, and said the Spanish embassy would cooperate to strengthen ties between Pakistani students and Spanish universities.
FCCI points to untapped trade potential in Faisalabad
FCCI President Arif Ehsan Malik said there was huge untapped potential for trade between Pakistan and Spain. He invited Spanish investors to invest in the M3 Industrial Estate and said he was seeking to declare Faisalabad the first circular city in Pakistan, as the city consumes 90% of textile waste and 65% of plastic waste.
Malik said the FCCI is an elected platform representing 20,000 members and described it as “the textile engine of Pakistan.” He also thanked Aragon for granting Pakistan GSP plus status. He said most exporters fully comply with labour and environmental laws while meeting their other global responsibilities.
Malik said Pakistan could supply traditional textile products that could be co-branded with Spanish partners. He praised Spanish expertise in olive oil production and proposed collaboration between a Spanish design school and the textile university in Faisalabad on industrial design, fashion and new innovations.
Several members of the chamber took part in a question-and-answer session. Later, Malik presented the FCCI shield to Aragon, while Senior Vice President Mian Muhammad Saeed offered a vote of gratitude.
