Pakistan, Czech Republic: joint venture opportunities exist in various sectors: Nestaval

There are opportunities to have joint venture with Pakistan in renewable energy, coal-mining, food processing and others sector, leader of a delegation of Czech Republic's businessmen and President Czech Middle-Asian Chamber of Commerce, Jiri Nestaval said.
Speaking at a meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), he said that this was the first visit of Czech's chamber delegation to Pakistan, which is meant to have first hand knowledge about the opportunities of co-operation existed in various sectors. He said that the entry of Czech Republic into European Union (EU) had created great opportunities for cooperation between Czech Republic and Pakistan.
To a question, he said that Czech could assist Pakistan in providing education facility in mining engineering. "Thousands of Pakistan students have already got various engineering degrees from a number of Czech universities and colleges," he added Jiri Nestaval agreed to sign MoU with KCCI for mutual co-operation. He said that a larger and high-powered Czech trade delegation would visit Pakistan in May this year to have meetings with their Pakistani counterparts in energy, thermal, water and wind, mining machinery, chemicals, pharmaceutical and healthcare, glass and automobile industry.
He invited KCCI delegation to visit Czech Republic to see the market and existing opportunities of co-operation in different fields. Former President KCCI Majid Aziz said that Pakistan was facing serious power and energy crisis and it needed assistance in renewable energy and gas exploration sector on priority basis to develop its energy sector. "At present industries remain closed for 12 to 18 hours in different areas due to unavailability of gas and electricity," he added.
He underlined the need of introducing coal-based captive power generating units in Pakistan. Vice President KCCI, Zia Ahmed Khan, said that Pakistan and Czech were two friendly countries. "Both the countries are striving for promoting peace, integrity, progress and development in the region and share similar views on many global issues," he added. He said that KCCI had signed various MoUs with international chambers and proposed that a similar MoU for co-operation should be signed between KCCI and Czech Middle-Asian Chamber of Commerce.