Dr Guido Westerwelle, Deputy Chan cellor/Foreign Minister of the Republic of Germany will visit Pakistan from January 8-9, Foreign Office said on Thursday. He will hold bilateral talks with the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, and also call on the Pakistani leadership during the visit.
The Foreign Office said Germany is an important friendly country. We seek to enhance bilateral political, economic, trade, cultural relations. He said the bilateral relations are based on shared values of democracy, pluralism, respect for human rights and economic liberalism.
The visit will also provide an opportunity to exchange views on regional security, Afghanistan, Pakistan-India relations, terrorism etc, the Foreign Office statement said.
"Development Co-operation with Germany is an important component of our bilateral relations. Germany significantly enhanced the Development Assistance from Euro 64 million in 2007-08 to Euro 145.35 million in 2009-2010. The assistance focused on four priority areas, namely, Basic Education, Primary Health Care, Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency and Micro Finance/Poverty Elevation," says the statement.
Additionally, Germany also provided $22.6 million as Humanitarian Assistance for IDPs during 2009-2010. Besides bilateral assistance worth $89.1 million, the German public also donated over $210 million for the flood victims in Pakistan.
Germany is Pakistan's overall fourth largest trading partner, and the largest in the EU. Bilateral trade has touched $2.24 billion in 2009-2010. Despite global recession, Pakistan exports to Germany have witnessed an increase of 22.13 percent and have reached $830 million during 2009-2010. Around 21 Pakistani companies participated in the MEDICA International Trade Fair held in Dusseldorf (Germany) in November 2010.
The bilateral Trade Investment Treaty signed in December 2009 with Germany has opened a new chapter in our economic relationship and help in re-enforcing business relations between the two countries. Presently, Germany is the 8th largest investor in Pakistan. Several German multi-nationals are operating in Pakistan.
Germany has also extended active support to Pakistan's initiatives with the EU for providing greater market access to Pakistani exports in EU. It has also been a strong supporter in the EU for Pakistan specific concessions owing to twin impact of terrorism and the flood devastation that caused heavy toll on Pakistan socially and economically.
As one of the founding members of the FODP, Germany has actively participated in the Groups Meetings. It pledged Euro 115 million at the Tokyo Donors Conference (Euro 80 million provided under Bilateral Development Co-operation).
Germany has also established an Academic Exchange Service in Islamabad since February 2010 to intensify co-operation in the field of higher education. There are at present 2000 Pakistani scholars enrolled in German Universities for higher studies.
The Foreign Office said, "We also envisage increase in the scholarships offer by German Government up to 100 per year from 2012 onwards." Given Germany's expertise in renewable energy, Pakistan is seeking its technological assistance and investment in this field. "We also intend to propose a Joint Research Fund to promote training of our scientists in German institutions as well as exchange of researchers/scientists," the statement said.
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