The Department of Economic Affairs of the Embassy of France in Pakistan wishes to congratulate Pakistan France Business Alliance for the holding of its 6th Trade Awards Ceremony to honour the leading trade partners with France.
The Trade Awards Ceremony has now become a yearly event of the PFBA activities. By acknowledging the performance of the leading exporters and importers to and from France, PFBA provides them with great incentive. Needless to say that the Department of Economic Affairs has always collaborate very closely with PFBA, to promote economic and commercial relations between France and Pakistan.
Like the previous years, the Department of Economic Affairs has been trying with PFBA to organise visits of delegations from France to Pakistan or from Pakistan to France. Unfortunately, this has not been possible in 2009. But we expect that the coming year will prove to be more auspicious for such projects.
Despite a short fall in the volume of the bilateral trade in the present calendar year, as compared to previous one, it has to be noted that the Pakistan's textile exports to France have maintained themselves at their previous level. As far as French exports to Pakistan are concerned, the contribution that France wishes to make to the development of energy, urban environment, transportation and agriculture sectors in Pakistan, will help to attract the attention of French industrialists and exporters to the wide opportunities that Pakistan offers in these sectors. The last visit to Pakistan of the French Minister of External Trade is one strong sign in this direction.
We have great faith in Pakistan economy and in the capability of its businessmen and industrialists for the future of our bilateral economic relations. Today's ceremony, therefore, is rightfully honouring those who have played the key role in enhancing trade exchanges between the two countries over the last year.