A Swiss economic delegation was in Pakistan for a two-day visit of Karachi and a day-long visit of the capital city Islamabad. The delegation was co-organised by the Embassy and the Consulate General of Switzerland in order to portray Pakistan as an economic partner having great potential for investment and business ventures in several sectors of the economy.
The delegation was led by Ambassador Eric Martin, delegate of the Federal Council for Trade Agreements, Head of Bilateral Economic Relations, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Federal Department of Economic Affairs. It was a high profile public and private sector delegation visiting Pakistan after many years.
During the visit, the delegation met senior government officials and businessmen. The main objective of their visit was to further deepen official and business to business contacts between Pakistan and Switzerland to explore mutually beneficial business opportunities. The delegates exchanged views with the Switzerland based multinational companies operating here and had fruitful meetings and discussions with the Board of Investment and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan.
They also visited the facility of SGS Pakistan in Korangi industrial area, had meetings with Acting Governor & Directors of State Bank of Pakistan, President and members of the Managing Committee of Overseas Investors' Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OICCI) and paid a courtesy visit to the Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul Ebad. In Islamabad, they had discussions with the representatives of Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce, Planning Commission besides some diplomats and business community.
Talking to a large gathering of Karachi business community at the residence of the Swiss Consul General, Didier Boschung, the head of the delegation Ambassador Eric Martin said that he was on a fact finding mission together with representatives of some important economic organisations of Switzerland. He said that it was his first visit to Pakistan and his perception about this country change within few hours after landing in Karachi. He further added that the members of the delegation were very much impressed to discover the resilience and economic potential of this country and were fully convinced of the opportunities - despite all the challenges and difficulties - to further deepen the bilateral economic relations between Pakistan and Switzerland.-PR