Danish Ambassador Jesper Moller Sornsen said here on Friday that his country's trade ties with Pakistan should grow from existing $425 million, offering investment in energy, agriculture and dairy sectors. During his visit to Karachi Press Club, the ambassador told newsmen about his country's $50 million development assistant programme (DAP) for Pakistan to help build primary education and social sectors in the country.
He said his country evolved a plan to shift focus on commercial ties with Pakistan as the annual trade of both the nations stood only $400m. He said that a Danish trade delegation will visit Pakistan next month to explore possibilities of trade and joint ventures. Initially, Danish companies would look for investment in energy generation projects in Pakistan, he added.
The other sectors where Danish firms could invest include agriculture, farming and dairy projects, he said, adding that his office would help establish contacts between the Pakistani and Danish companies to begin the projects. In line with the DAP, he said that the Danish government would also help the local media augment its capacity and play a key role to assist the underprivileged section of the society.
Under the DAP, he added, the main focus of Danish government would be on rebuilding the primary schooling structure in collaboration with UNICEF in Fata, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. He said the programme has helped in rehabilitating around 500 schools. Terming Pakistan as 'a politically important' nation in South Asia because of its demographic and geographic position in the region, Sornsen said he believed that disturbances in Pakistan not only affected South Asia but the Europe also.
He told the newsmen that his country was among the countries which advocated GSP Plus status for Pakistan. He also urged the Pakistani fruit exporters to follow the EU standards. He enumerated scores of other projects which the Danish government carried out in Pakistan to help scale down gender inequality. He said his government is struggling to improve social and economic conditions for the underprivileged section of the society.
The DAP is a sole investor to help build capacity of young parliamentarians, besides closely working with the HRCP and other civil rights organisations in Pakistan, he said. He vowed that his country would build economic ties with Pakistan. President KPC Imtiaz Khan Faran, Secretary Aamir Latif and Vice President Saeed Sarbazi also shared their views with the visiting Danish Ambassador.