Alvi terms Pakistan, African region 'emerging economies'

President Dr Arif Alvi Wednesday said that both Pakistan and African region are emerging economies and the two have tremendous opportunities for each other to enhance cooperation in various areas including education, health, trade, tourism, defense and climate change.

Addressing the opening session of a two-day Envoys' Conference titled "Engage Africa," organized by Foreign Office, the President said that Pakistan and Africa have several similarities, and the two sides need to work in close cooperation for achieving peace and prosperity for their respective peoples. He said the two sides should enhance cooperation in defense and trade. As the security situation of Pakistan is improving, "the way [Christopher] Columbus discovered America, the world is now discovering a new beautiful Pakistan full of opportunities," said President Alvi said, adding that Pakistan is an emerging economy where the middle class is rising and the consumer is getting more prosperous with improving security situations. Alvi said that he felt last month that Pakistan's economy is improving and it is opening up for the rest of the world. "Pakistan had a cloud, which the outside world could not see beyond that cloud, which was that insecurity because of the situation in Afghanistan and the terrorism," he said, adding that there are huge opportunities in various fields.

He urged the envoys that current government is pursuing diplomacy of peace with its neighbors and beyond. "This is unfortunate that Prime Minister Imran Khan's initiative of peaceful neighborhood was not welcomed by one belligerent neighbour," he said, while referring to India declining to resolve the outstanding issues peacefully through talks. "But it does not matter; our goal and direction will not change. That is our narrative which is the narrative of peace," he said

He said that environment, fighting poverty, illiteracy and health are common concerns of the two sides. He further told the envoys to work hard for deepening the trade ties and promoting tourism, adding that with the security situations improving, tremendous opportunities await for foreign investors.

The President also suggested the resident missions of Pakistan should be increased with possibility of two-member missions - an ambassador and a trade counselor. "Pakistan is emerging and Africa is emerging, the two sides have opportunities for each other that must be exploited," he further told the envoys. "We value our cordial ties with the African countries and we value that the two sides have been communicating at all levels," he said, adding that Pakistan has a brilliant history of ties with African nations, especially in their freedom struggles of North Africa as well as in the peacekeeping in the African continent.

He pointed out that Pakistan has 15 resident missions in the different African countries and there are 11 missions in Islamabad, adding that there are 54 countries in Africa with 1.2 billion population and $ 2.3 trillion GDP of African continent.

Appreciating the initiative of conference, the President said such interactions provide valuable opportunity to engage and communicate. He said, "We want to continue improving our relations with Africa."

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in his address said that Pakistan is desirous of communication with African countries on the basis of mutual principles of equal progress and prosperity. "We have initiated economic diplomacy under which we are committed to enhancing export and strengthen economy by undertaking efforts in various economic sectors," he said, adding that Pakistan enjoys tremendous political and diplomatic ties with the African countries.

He said that Pakistan's armed forces rendered services in many African countries for maintaining peace under the UN Peacekeeping missions. He expressed hope that the conference will further strengthen mutual relations and economic cooperation of Pakistan with the African countries.

Advisor to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Chairman Board of Investment (BOI) Zubair Gilani, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood, Secretary Commerce Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera, Pakistan's ambassadors posted in various African countries, Islamabad based envoys of the African countries and senior officers of the Foreign Office attended the session.