ISLAMABAD: Darson Industries Pvt Ltd Wazirabad, manufacturer of automotive rubber hose pipes and rubber moulded parts, signed a collaboration agreement with Butsch GmBH Germany for the sale of automotive rubber products to vehicle manufacturing industry in Germany and other European countries. Thomas Butsch, CEO of Butsch GmBH, a leading company in Europe which has 12 million euro turnover in 2015-16, and Abdul Hamid, CEO of Darson Industries, signed the document at the Pakistan Pavilion of Hannover Messe 2017, one of the world’s largest trade fairs being organised by the Engineering Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the commercial office, Embassy of Pakistan, Berlin. Under the agreement, Darson will be the manufacturing hub, while Butsch will act as a holding, distribution and customer services representative in Germany. The Darson and Butsch synergy will provide Darson with access to European automakers. Darson and Butsch will together develop the products and place them in serial production. It is pertinent to mention that the two companies met at Hannover Messe in 2016 and negotiations were set in. Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) Chairman Mashood Ali Khan, who is participating in Hannover Messe 2017 as an organiser of the group, highlighted that promotion of engineering sector needed efforts on a long-term basis. “The Darson-Butsch collaboration is an example of the continued participation, which will increase the confidence of German and other European buyers in Pakistani auto parts manufacturers as well.” The PAAPAM chairman appreciated the continuous efforts of the EDB, which resulted in converting opportunities into real businesses. The Engineering Development Board CEO congratulated the management of Darson and Butsch for entering into a new business relationship, and assured them of his full support for all such future developments. He reiterated that Pakistan could only increase its exports significantly through enhancement of value added engineering exports and providing such platforms for establishing technical linkages. Meanwhile, the EDB organised a seminar in collaboration with the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) and the Embassy of Pakistan in Berlin during the exhibition. Approximately 30 industrialists from different countries, mainly China, Thailand, Germany, France and Turkey, attended the seminar. Mashood Ali Khan highlighted the business potential in Pakistan and the incentives being offered to the new investors under different schemes of the government, which included incentives under the special economic zones, national industrial parks and export processing zones. He highlighted that under the new Automotive Development Policy (ADP 2016-21), lucrative incentives had been offered to the investors in the Greenfield investment category – the new investment in vehicle manufacturing. The investors appreciated the efforts of Pakistani government to attract investment in the country through provision of incentives to vehicle manufacturers and assured that they would soon visit Pakistan to discuss the possibilities of doing business in Pakistan. The commercial councillor, Embassy of Pakistan, also expressed his views on the business opportunities available in Pakistan and appreciated the efforts of the EDB for organising one of the largest participation of engineering industry of Pakistan in the specialised international fair attracting investment in the engineering sector. He welcomed the participants to discuss their plans for technology tie-ups/joint ventures with the management of the EDB/Ministry of Industries and Production, who are working hard to uplift various industrial sectors in the country. The international visitors appreciated the ambiance at the Pakistan Pavilion and the hospitality shown. While visiting the pavilion, the quality of engineering goods being manufactured by Pakistan was also admired. The participants showed interest in having business ties with Pakistani engineering companies in the form of joint venture agreements, technical collaborations and licensing agreements.