ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday said that to promote the economic and trade relations at international level as envisioned by Prime Minister Imran Khan, "we have practically kicked off an 'economic diplomacy'."
The foreign minister was given detailed briefings by 13 ambassadors stationed at 13 foreign countries through video link about the steps taken by them to promote the 'economic diplomacy' of the government in their respective countries of posting.
The minister maintained that for a stable foreign policy, a stable economy is quite crucial, adding, "We need to increase the volume of trade and export with other countries to boost our economy'.
Keeping in view the need and importance of economic diplomacy, he added, an economic diplomacy division headed by additional secretary Nabil Muneer has been set up at foreign affairs ministry.
The foreign minister was all praise for the diplomats working across the globe, saying that the diplomats abroad are working quite efficiently to promote economic diplomacy, bilateral cooperation and trade which are yielding positive results.
Qureshi said that the two-day 'Engage Africa' conference which took place last year to promote trade between South Africa and Pakistan was a part of government's policy of economic diplomacy, adding that we also held another first Pak-Africa trade development conference this year in January in Nerobi.
He said that developing countries and the international community should take steps now to speed up economic recovery as Covid-19 pandemic dealt a severe blow to the global economy especially poorer countries.
The minister seemed quite satisfied with the efforts being made by the ambassadors of the country abroad with regard to their work to make government's 'economic diplomacy' a success.
The diplomats who briefed the minister about their efforts with regard to economic diplomacy participated in the moot through video link from Washington DC, Tokyo, Hague, Tanzania, Singapore, Shanghai, Seoul, Pretoria, Oslo, Paris, Nairobi, Mexico, Los Angeles and Kuala Lumpur.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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