A new Greater Manchester Pakistan Forum is being established to formalise, strengthen and create business and cultural connections.
Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, and GMCA Economy lead, Cllr Bev Craig, met with university and business leaders from the city-region, alongside representatives of the British Council in Pakistan to Greater Manchester to set out the city-region’s ambitions to develop and enhance links with Pakistan.
Greater Manchester’s towns and cities are home to many people of Pakistani origin and heritage, and as an emerging economy with a young and growing population of around 200 million, Pakistan was identified in Greater Manchester’s International Strategy as a growing market for international talent.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:
“I am delighted to have welcome representatives from the Higher Education Commission and British Council in Pakistan to Greater Manchester, with support from some of our own world-leading universities and institutions, our mission is to bring together partners from our city-region and Pakistan to deepen collaboration in education, trade, and culture.
“Many of our residents came here from across Pakistan to help build Greater Manchester into what it is today. The contributions that they and their families have made to our communities, our culture, and our economy cannot be understated, and the Forum is about strengthening those bonds between our places and exploring new opportunities to work together.”
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester portfolio lead for Economy, Business & International said:
“We are really pleased to announce that we are setting up a Greater Manchester- Pakistan Forum with key Greater Manchester partners to formally recognise our relationship and to strengthen our existing connections.
“We hope that through this Forum we will continue to build and strengthen our existing collaborations as well as exploring new ones, through trade, culture, education and lastly, people to people links
“We’re really excited for the work of the Forum to get started, it will be initially chaired by Afzal Khan CBE MP, and we know from the interest that was generated yesterday that the work of the Forum will be very valuable.”
Consul General of Pakistan in Manchester, Mr Tariq Wazir said:
“The Consulate General in Manchester welcomes the announcement of the Greater Manchester Pakistan Forum. Pakistan offers great business potential, which still remains untapped.
“The Forum will play a strategic role in driving the economic, educational and cultural links between both regions. As Consul General of Pakistan, I support this important initiative.”
The creation of the Greater Manchester Pakistan Forum follows in the footsteps of similar bodies that have helped the city-region strengthen cultural and economic ties with other places around the world. Improved relations with Japan, for example, recently culminated in a new deal between Greater Manchester and manufacturer Daikin on delivering green heating technology to homes across the city.
