Message from Italian Consul in Karachi

I am honoured to address the readers of this prestigious newspaper on the 65th anniversary of the National Day of Italy. This year marks also the 150th anniversary of Italy achieving its National Unity and asserting its National Identity as a modern state, with a vision towards a liberal and emancipated society, individual rights and self-determination, which remain to date distinct characters of our social culture.
In celebrating both these events, I take this opportunity to thank the Authorities, the citizens of Karachi and the People of Pakistan for their warm hospitality and that distinct sense of cultural affinity that invariably translates into an amicable approach and a comfortable backdrop for all mutual relationships, whether at the official, business or private levels.
In these extraordinary times where extraordinary events are taking place on the global stage, and Pakistan is being confronted with its share of challenges both on the domestic and regional fronts, Italy strongly supports on a bilateral and multilateral level all efforts carried out by the Government of Pakistan towards implementation of reforms, modernisation and social development for the betterment of its multiethnic and multicultural society.
Under the Pakistani-Italian Debt Swap Agreement, about 100 million US Dollars worth of debt are being converted into development projects, several of which are currently being implemented in all provinces of Pakistan and in different sectors by Governmental partners as well as Pakistani and Italian/International NGOs, out of which 30 million dollars have recently been allocated to the Provinces for post floods reconstruction initiatives.
Other post floods contributions include 71.5 million USD to the Citizens Damage Compensation Programme promoted by the Government, which is in addition to the 13 million USD which were disbursed in the immediate aftermath of the floods to respond to the humanitarian appeal. In the framework of the "Friends of Democratic Pakistan" Conference in Tokyo in 2009, Italy has also pledged 88 million Us Dollars to be invested in rural development, social inclusion and vocational training.
Finally, we have contributed with a rough 6 million USD to the Multi Donor Trust Fund managed by the World Bank. As far as trade relations are concerned, the Italian Trade Commission in Karachi which has recently reduced its staff for budgetary constraints, still operates as a Trade Antenna whereas the recently established Italian Development Council, a body uniting Pakistani and Italian businessmen which is in the process of acquiring its formal recognition also by the Italian Government, is progressively asserting itself in this marketplace and is working in the right direction to further bolster bilateral trade.
A bilateral trade which has constantly been on the increase for the last ten years and amounted to 1.06 billion euros in 2010, crossing the threshold of 1 billion euros for the third consecutive year, consolidating Italy's position as the third largest trade partner within the EU both in terms of imports and exports. In particular, Pakistan's exports to Italy have increased in 2010 by 16% to 488.5 million euros, which is Pakistan's best result in 64 years of bilateral trade.
Trade-wise our two countries are complementary: Italy provides Pakistan with state-of-the-art technology and know-how to develop its industry and infrastructure, being at the same time a large, rich market for Pakistani consumer goods. We should mention our oil & gas giant ENI as one of the most prominent foreign corporations operating here, alongside the smaller in size but equally world-renowned CNG kits manufacturers Land Renzo and BRC. Other companies, like ABB Italia, Nuovo Pignone and Saipem, are also successfully working in the energy and agro-chemical sectors.
A vast potential still exists for Italian investment in Pakistan in sectors like energy, agro-based industry, tanning and leather, textiles, jewellery, marble and granite, woodworking. Energy is actually becoming a major focus, as Pakistan needs to overcome a detrimental crisis that Italy can help alleviate by drawing on its outstanding engineering expertise and century-old tradition in power technology.
We also see agriculture and the agro-based industry as sectors for solid future collaboration between our two countries: Pakistan has an immense agricultural potential, both in terms of crops and livestock, and will have to increase output to meet growing domestic and international demand. Italy has a vast experience in agriculture and food processing and can provide expertise, know-how and technology through research institutes and companies that we are encouraging to look into this market in a more decisive way.
In the cultural field, the Italian Government has been providing for over 10 years an Italian Lecturer to the Centre of Italian Language and Culture at the University of Karachi, where Italian Language is offered as a subsidiary course and which has been experiencing a steady increase in enrolments since its inception. The now imminent arrival of the new Lecturer will allow resumption of full operations at the Centre.
I would like to conclude by expressing wholeheartedly the wish of a prosperous future to our nationals living in Pakistan, to my country and to our host country, in a rejuvenated social context that may be conducive to a further strengthening of our cultural bonds and to an expansion of our trade relations.