ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged the businessmen of the United Arab Emirates to utilise the immense opportunities in Pakistan, a market of over 220 million people offering its investors a strong and large consumer market.
“Energy, infrastructure, e-commerce, agro-based industry and IT sectors are up for grabs,” he said in an interview with Khaleej Times during his visit to the UAE last week and published on Thursday.
Besides meeting the UAE leadership, the prime minister also witnessed the signing of three memoranda of understanding in the fields of combating human trafficking, information exchange and cooperation between the diplomatic academies of both countries.
Asked about the UAE and Pakistan trade relations, Prime Minister Shehbaz pointed out that the bilateral trade with the UAE had increased by 25.40 percent during 2021-22 as compared to the previous year, amounting to $10.60 billion. However, he said “the current level of bilateral trade is still not a true reflection.
We are looking to further strengthen our existing economic, trade and investment ties,” he said, adding the average annual trade between the two countries stood at $8 billion making the UAE the largest trading partner of Pakistan in the MENA region.
Responding to another query on new areas of cooperation, the prime minister said, “We find new avenues of economic cooperation to take our economic relations at par with our excellent political relations". He described Information Technology (IT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Financial Technology (Fintech) as new areas of collaboration with much greater potential.
About the UAE’s humanitarian aid to flood victims in Pakistan, PM Shehbaz thanked the UAE for its “valuable and timely” humanitarian support for flood-affected people. “The day floods hit Pakistan I received a call from His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, who said “we will immediately start sending relief goods for the flood-affected areas,” he recalled. And then, he said, an air bridge was established between Abu Dhabi and Pakistan, and relief goods were sent to Islamabad and different cities of Sindh including Karachi, Badin and Shikarpur.
On the UAE and Pakistan friendship, the PM explained that the foundation of those relations was laid by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who wanted Pakistan to be among the leading, prosperous and progressive countries. “We will never forget his benevolence and generosity for all times to come.” Shehbaz Sharif thanked the UAE government and its leadership when asked about the welfare of Pakistani diaspora, noting that the UAE was hosting and allowing 1.7 million Pakistanis to earn their livelihood in the country with dignity and respect.
On the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 28), which would take place in November 2023, the prime minister wished the UAE success in hosting this event, saying that “as part of its climate diplomacy, Pakistan would continue to constructively contribute to global climate change debate, negotiations, and action”.
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