Prime Minister, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Tuesday called for boosting bilateral trade with Senegal by enhanced collaboration in textiles, agricultural machinery and pharmaceutical sectors. Following a round of exclusive and delegation level talks with the President of Senegal Macky Sall here at the PM House, the Prime Minister emphasised enhancing bilateral trade from its current volume of US $30.469 million a year to its real potential.
Presently Pakistan's annual exports to Senegal amount to US $29.433 million while imports are a mere US $1.06 million. During the talks Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and the President of Senegal led their respective sides in the talks. The President of Senegal is on a two-day visit to Pakistan on the invitation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif urged Senegal to benefit from Pakistan's products including leather and light engineering goods, agricultural machinery and implements to Senegal. "A composite trade and investment delegation led by our Minister for Commerce could visit Senegal in this regard," the Prime Minister said. He also extended technical support to Senegal for establishment of sugar and cement plants besides assistance in promoting its agriculture sector.
The PM said that Pakistan was considering opening a Pakistani bank in Senegal, which would facilitate trade and investment between the two countries. He recalled his meetings with President Macky Sall at United Nations General Assembly session last year in New York and later in Saudi Arabia, where the two sides agreed to develop greater cooperation in diverse fields.
Nawaz Sharif congratulated the Senegalese President on the election of his country as the non-permanent member of UN Security Council for the term 2016-17 and expressed confidence that Senegal would play a pro-active role in protecting and promoting the interests of Islamic countries.
Pakistan offered to cooperate in the fields of intelligence sharing, control of human & drug trafficking and capacity building in counter terrorism for Senegal. "We are happy to offer scholarships for Senegalese students in various fields of education and training in prestigious institutions of Pakistan," the PM said. He lauded President Macky Sall in ensuring democracy in his country following the general elections of 2012 and mentioned his positive role in resolving the regional disputes.
The PM welcomed the decision of President Sall to open Senegalese Embassy in Islamabad, adding that it would further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The two sides also discussed cooperation in defence sector and defence procurement. The Senegalese delegation included Mansour Elimane Kane, Minister for Infrastructure, Oumar Demba BA, Diplomatic Advisor to the President, Gnounka Diouf, Minister Counsellor to the Presidency, Hamidou Samba Kasse, Minister Counsellor for Communications and others. From Pakistan side the delegation included Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to PM, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for Defence and other senior officials of the government.
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