Swiss Charge d'Affaires Nicolas Plattner has disclosed that Swiss government has donated ten surplus Alouette-III helicopters (with spare parts and associated kits) to Pakistan for non-combat search and rescue missions as well as for humanitarian assistance in perspective of future need for relief operation.
Three of them had already delivered and remaining seven are being transferred according to the schedule. Pakistan airforce would operate and maintain these choppers on the behalf of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Delivering his speech at a meeting of executive Committee of Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) chaired by Shahid Naseem Khokhar and FPCCI's former President Mian Tanvir' A Sheikh , Mian Anis A' Sheikh former President of MCCI, Shehzad Ali Khan Vice Chairman of PCGA, Ajwat Arslan Khan, Commercial and trade Officer of Swiss Embassy.
Noclas stressed the need for boosting trade and investment activities between Pakistan and Switzerland to achieve the common goals. He said that renowned Swiss Multinational companies had established a Swiss Business Council (SBC) to develop, facilitate and monitor the trade and business relations between two countries.
It was another remarkable step in bilateral trade, he added. He said that SBC has formed an alliance with Swiss Asian Chamber of Commerce, Zurich (SACC) Pakistan is now a part of this great Swiss Asian Business axis. He suggested that Pakistani traders should approach to OSEC for requiring information.
Swiss diplomat said that Swiss Development and Co-operation Agency (SDC) is serving on humanitarian aid programme since 1967. So far, SDC has invested over 700 million US dollars for its development programme.
During earthquake and recent floods, Switzerland also provided aid for reconstruction of 100 schools, drinking water, food, hygienic kits for thousands of flood affectees. Swis Government had contributed 10.7 million dollars while Swiss population donated over 42 million CHF.He said that Swiss investors had injected one billion US dollars in Pakistan , 19 Swiss companies like ABB, Clariant, Sika, Gate Gourmet, Nestle, Novartis, Roche, SICPA,SGC ,Syngenta or Nexus are well know here.