Pakistan and the European Union (EU) hosted the first EU-Pakistan Business Forum in Islamabad on April 28 and 29, 2026. This high-level event marked a significant step toward deepening relations between the EU and Pakistan within the framework of the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, which aims to mobilize 400 billion euros in investments outside of Europe. Representatives from politics and business discussed the challenges and opportunities facing bilateral trade.
During a panel discussion titled "Sustainable Textiles," the Managing Director of the Hamburg-based association German Importers (VFI) presented the results of a Business Membership Organisation Partnership (KVP) conducted in collaboration with Pakistani associations in the textile and sporting goods sectors. The objective of this cooperation is to inform the partner associations' approximately 3,000 member companies about supply chain due diligence obligations and the requirements of the EU Green Deal - particularly in the context of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) - and to support them in implementing sustainable corporate management practices. Companies document their progress in sustainability reports.
The introduction of this service - a novel concept in Pakistan until now - has proven highly successful: within just the first 16 months of the project's duration (Phase 1), more than 30 companies have already produced a sustainability report, with more expected to follow. Additionally, the Pakistani associations offer thematic workshops for their members. To date, the focus has been on occupational safety, water management, and grievance mechanisms. Workshops covering women's empowerment, biodiversity, and wages and salaries are currently in preparation.
The results and offerings of the KVP, which is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as part of the Partners in Transformation initiative, generated considerable interest among forum participants, including Pakistan’s Minister of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Masood Malik (pictured here with Dr. Michael Arretz, Managing Director of the VFI, and Sarim Masood, the KVP’s long-term expert).
