Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi Wednesday announced to personally lead delegation of leading Italian businessmen and entrepreneurs during the current calendar year to explore possibilities of investment in key areas of Pakistan's economy. The Italian leader unveiled this announcement after President Asif Ali Zardari's one-on-one interaction and luncheon meeting with him asked the Italian premier to help Pakistan through investment and transfer of technology.
Briefing the newsmen after the meetings, spokesperson to the President and former senator Farhatullah Babar said six areas were identified for Italian investment including energy, marble quarrying and dressing, gemstone, leather value-addition and agriculture.
During the parleys, the President expressed that Pakistan was at the centre of huge market of nearly two billion people in parts of China, India and whole of Central Asia. Prime Minister Berlusconi said that Italy was aware of the strategic importance of Pakistan in the region and was "absolutely ready to help Pakistan in all ways possible".
He also directed his ambassador in Pakistan to work out firm proposals for collaboration with the Pakistani authorities in about a dozen critical areas. Italy, he said will continue to make efforts with European Union to sign Free Trade Agreement with Pakistan. He stated this when President Zardari said he was touring the world not for aid but for trade.
President Zardari also suggested that special consideration needed to be accorded in terms of trade for countries like Pakistan afflicted by terrorism. The Italian Prime Minister said that Democracy in Pakistan should be strengthened by the world community. He said Italy was in line with FoDP and will support all strategic and economic initiatives to help Pakistan. The Italian prime minister also announced two scholarships for bright Pakistani students for studies in higher education in the Friendship University, set up by him in Milan.
In a joint media interaction after the talks held between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister said that Italy would continue to support Pakistan at different fora especially Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP).
President Asif Ali Zardari lauded the help and support of Italy for Pakistan at FoDP and on the issue of preferential access for Pakistani products in the European Union market. President Zardari also thanked Prime Minister Berlusconi for sending Italian business delegation to discuss investment and business opportunities in Pakistan.
The world democracies, he added, should support democratic set up in Pakistan which is major strength to address challenges and problems on different fronts. About the minorities in Pakistan, the President stated that all are citizens of Pakistan and have the equal rights to practicing their religion in the country. The democratic government, he added accorded top priority to promoting tolerance and inter-faith harmony in the country.
Advocating Free Trade Agreement and market access in European market, the Italian Prime Minister said that Italy hoped to have long term economic partnership with Pakistan. The Italian leader wished the elected dispensation success against all odds and problems.
Describing Italian Prime Minister as a seasoned politician, President Asif Ali Zardari said that he was greatly impressed by his personality and conduct of politics. Later President Asif Ali Zardari held meeting with Speaker, National Assembly Gian Franco Fani and discussed matters pertaining to exchange of parliamentary delegations between the two countries. The two sides observed during the meeting that level of political and economic co-operation between Pakistan and Italy will be further strengthened and beefed up through exchange of parliamentary delegations.