The French Ambassador, Daniel Jouanneau has said that France is ready to extend co-operation to Pakistan in overcoming its energy crisis by building windmills and initiating solar energy projects. While speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) here on Tuesday, he said that Pakistan could overcome its energy shortage by building windmills with the French cooperation as his country has a lot of windy areas.
Not only France but the whole world is interested in Pakistan's stability and France will take every possible step to help Pakistan in coping with all challenges, he said.
"We cannot have more active presence in Asia if we bypass Pakistan, which is a hub between Central Asia and South Asia" he added He also invited Pakistani businessmen to invest in France as investment in France means duty-free export to other 26 members of the European Union.
He, however, stressed the need for image building of Pakistan that had been lost in the eyes of world community due to multiple reasons. He said French multinationals had maintained a visible presence in Pakistan in various sectors like pharmaceutical and chemicals, telecommunication equipment; oil marketing textiles and food processing.
There are several French companies operating in Pakistan including Total in oil marketing, Alcatel Pakistan in communications, Aventis Pharma & Rhone Paulene Rorer in pharmaceuticals & Rhodia Pakistan in manufacturing, Continental Biscuits in food.
These are all success stories. Total has captured a major chunk of oil marketing sector in Pakistan. All the French companies are doing good business in Pakistan.
France has also significantly contributed to the building up of defence capability of Pakistan's Air Force and Navy by supplying Air Defence System and fleets of Mirages and transferring technology for building up of sub-marines.
This speaks of remarkable relations that exist between the two countries, which forms the basis for more co-operation in other fields also. The LCCI, Acting President, Mian Muzaffar Ali, while stressing the need further expansion in commercial and economic ties between Pakistan and France, said that it was necessary that both countries have access to each other's markets.
He said that major areas where France and Pakistan could work together include telecommunication, automobiles, shipbuilding and automotive parts, defence equipment, oil and gas exploration, infrastructure, textiles, garments, leather products, electrical and electronics appliances, fruits and vegetables, livestock and dairy, fisheries, horticulture, storage facilities for agro-products and cool chains. Any investment made in Pakistan will find market for its products in Pakistan, Central Asian States, China and other regional countries, he added.
France and Pakistan have a long history of close ties in all fields, whether they are political, economic, and cultural or defence. The relations between the two countries have traditionally been excellent and friendly, characterised by a high level of mutual consultations.
A brief analysis of bilateral trade indicates that the total trade between France and Pakistan has averaged about $471 million over the last few years. Exports from Pakistan to France averaged around $299 million and imports from France to Pakistan were $172 million during this period. Pakistan's exports to France during this period have been showing an increasing trend.