Netherlands to reinforce trade ties with Pakistan
RECORDER REPORT
SIALKOT (January 20 2009)
Strenuous efforts would be made for reinforcement of bilateral trade between Netherlands and Pakistan as both are enjoying very friendly and cordial relations since long and with the passage of time these ties would be further cemented.'
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands to Pakistan, T Jeerd De Zwaan said. Addressing the members of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Monday, he said that Netherlands under the Co-operation Plan 2008-2011, would invest in the fields of education, water, sanitation and environment in Pakistan. The Netherlands was the third largest investor after the United Kingdom and United States of America in Pakistan, he revealed.
The Netherlands Ambassador further stated that buyers had become more conscious about the quality control and issues pertaining to labour and it is high time that business community of Pakistan should concentrate on these issues and ensure hurdle free exports to their foreign buyers.
The President SCCI, Hassan Ali Bhatti in his welcome address urged the need of further strengthening the bilateral trade ties between the two friendly countries. He also invited Dutch business tycoons to invest in the second biggest Export Processing Zone of Pakistan adding that the zone provides extraordinary facilities and benefits to both foreign and local investors.
Bhatti pointed out that there was unlimited scope of expanding trade ties between Pakistan and Netherlands and suggested active involvement of Netherlands Chambers, which could serve as resource for exchanging information about trade. He also viewed that exchange of trade delegations and holding of joint trade exhibitions would further help in promoting bilateral trade.
The SCCI Chief proposed that Centre for the Promotion of Import (CBI) should hold training course on export marketing at SCCI for providing tailorised training for the exporters. 'The SCCI would provide all necessary help and support for holding the training course,' he added. Earlier, the Ambassador visited surgical and sports industrial units of Sialkot.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2009
Italian envoy praises potential of local business community
RECORDER REPORT
ISLAMABAD (January 20 2009)
Italian Ambassador to Pakistan, Vincenzo Pratis expressed his confidence on the potential of Pakistani entrepreneurs to bail out the country from current economic crisis, saying business community of Pakistan has the capacity to earn more space in international market and bring the country out of crisis.
The trade volume of Pakistan and Italy reached at $700 million per annum and there are possibilities to take it to new heights with mutual co-operation, the Italian envoy said while talking to President Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), Syed Asad Mashhadi and other senior executives of the chamber on Monday.
The envoy visited RCCI and exchanged views with business leaders of the region for increasing the bilateral trade between the two countries. He said that Italian investors take keen interest in investing in different sectors in Pakistan and they found the atmosphere cordial for their investment. There are many sectors of economy in Pakistan where foreign investors want to invest, he said. "There are more than 90,000 Pakistani expatriates working in Italy, who are playing a good role in economic development of Italy, besides sending a huge amount of foreign exchange to Pakistan as remittances", he said.
Italian envoy said that after construction of Gwadar Port, Rawalpindi region has emerged as gateway to Central Asia, Afghanistan and China and the business community of Rawalpindi has a great role in economic stability of Pakistan. "Italy is producing best machinery to be used in different sectors and Pakistan manufacturers must get benefits by using this machinery", he added.
Earlier, in his welcome address Syed Asad Mashhadi said that besides Germany, France, Netherlands and China, Italy is one of the biggest business partners of Pakistan. "We have a huge potential to increase the trade volume between Italy and Pakistan and it is the responsibility of private sector of two sides to explore these vistas", he added.
He said that the exports of Italy to Pakistan during last fiscal year were 3.76 per cent of total exports while the import was 1.78 per cent of the total. Italian investors will find infrastructure, agriculture, transport, leather, textile and marble attractive sectors to invest and they will get good profit in these sectors here, he added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2009
Rs 20 billion uplift projects for Islamabad planned: Babar
RECORDER REPORT
ISLAMABAD (January 20 2009)
Federal Government has planned mega development projects costing Rs 20 billion for infrastructure development in capital and its rural areas, said Baber Awan, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, here on Monday. The objectives of the projects are to facilitate people of Islamabad and adjacent rural areas by providing them high standard health, education, water, sanitation and other recreational facilities, he added.
He was addressing a public rally after inaugurating a bridge at Golra Sharif, a sub-urban area of the federal capital. He said that the government is ready to execute these mega projects this year and people will get benefits of these soon. He said that mega projects including hospitals and schools would start this year to facilitate the people of Islamabad and of the adjacent urban areas. He said that Golrra Sharif is an historic place and to maintain its glory, more developmental projects for health and education would be started very soon.
He said that there is full harmony and unanimity of views between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani on all matters. "People talking about any differences between these two top leaders are living in fools' paradise", he added. Regarding repealing 17th amendment, he said PPP is committed to uphold supremacy of constitution and rule of law and it will support the bills moved in Parliament to repeal the 17th Amendment.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2009