ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi encouraged investors of Germany and other countries to invest in Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and to expand bilateral relations in the economic, trade, investment, and tourism sectors.
The ambassadors-designate of Germany, Spain, Belgium, Libya, Kenya, and Ethiopia presented their credentials to the president during the Presentation of Credentials Ceremony, held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Monday.
Ambassador of the Republic of Germany, Alfred Grannas, the ambassador of Spain, Jose Antonia de Ory Peral, the ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium, Charles Delogne, the ambassador of Libya, Moamer Z O Abdalmotlab, the ambassador of Kenya, Mary Nyambura Kamau, and the ambassador of Ethiopia, Jemal Beker Abdula made separate calls on the president.
Talking to the German ambassador, the president said that Germany was one of the largest foreign direct investors in Pakistan. He said that German firms with expertise in wind and solar energy as well as hydel projects could take advantage of new sets of incentives offered by Pakistan in these sectors.
The president encouraged German investors to invest in SEZs under CPEC. He said that keeping in view the huge potential of business, trade and investment between the two countries, the existing level of bilateral trade needed to be substantially improved. He stressed the need for bilateral cooperation between the two countries to mitigate the negative fallout of climate change and global warming against the backdrop of devastating floods in Pakistan.
While talking to the ambassador of Spain, the president expressed the need to further expand bilateral relations in the economic, trade, investment and tourism sectors. He appreciated the Spanish support to Pakistan on GSP-plus scheme and hoped that this support will continue in future as well. He stressed the need for the early finalization of an agreement on Defence Cooperation between the two countries.
Talking to the Belgian ambassador, the president stressed the need to substantially increase the volume of bilateral trade from its exiting volume of US$ 1.35 billion by increasing the pace of exchanges of business delegations, participating in trade fairs and launching joint ventures as well as forging meaningful cooperation in agriculture, port handling and dredging, and science and technology.
Talking to the ambassador of Libya, the president stressed the need for expanding the scope of trade ties and exploring new avenues of economic cooperation between the two countries. He expressed the hope that the new Ambassador, appointed after a gap of 11 years, would work towards further deepening the relationship between the two brotherly nations.
Talking to the Kenyan ambassador, the president said that Pakistan accorded utmost importance to the economic and trade ties with Kenya, it being Pakistan’s no 1 export destination and no 2 import destination in the African continent. He also expressed satisfaction over the existing level of bilateral cooperation and coordination in the areas of trade, economy, and defence and border management.
During his discussion with the Ethiopian ambassador, the president appreciated the decision of Ethiopian leadership to open a diplomatic mission in Islamabad. He expressed the hope that it would improve bilateral relations, enhance mutual exchanges, and would open a new era of friendship and cooperation between the two brotherly countries.
He also welcomed the increasing cooperation between the two countries in the aviation sector and the commencement of two weekly direct flights reconnecting Karachi with Africa through Addis Ababa.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2022
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