'EU countries should consider Pakistan as economic partner'

Pakistan has immense prospective to be a big entity in coming years and the EU countries should consider it for economic partner for the future," Italian Ambassador Vicenzo Prati said here on Friday. Speaking at a meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), he expressed hope that Pakistan will soon get its share in trade with EU countries and added that Italy will like to support Pakistan on the issue.
Regarding the very good long standing relations between Pakistan and Italy, the ambassador said, "Italy showed special interest to boost its trade and economic relations with Pakistan. Responding President KCCI Mian Abrar Ahmed demanded that Pakistan need trade and not aid, the ambassador said,"when you demanded aid we are providing; now you stress on trade and we are ready to support and increase trade". It is our interest to be your partner, he added. He expressed his views that aid can only support and provide relief in case on emergencies and it can not develop economy of a country.
He said Italian Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) can be good partners to develop SME sectors in Pakistan and establish units in joint ventures. He said Italy has huge SEM sector in lather, marble, fashion designing, and many other areas in which Italian companies can assist Pakistan to have trade and joint ventures. He invited business community to visit Italy and to develop person-to-parson contact to boost two-way trade.
He also advised the chamber to form a delegation and assured that the embassy will assist the delegation. Responding to the suggestion to establish joint chamber of commerce of KCCI and Rome, he assured that he will pass on the request to the concerned chamber the ambassador added that he believed Pakistan was going through a transitional phase and would emerge stronger. "We know that Pakistan is passing through a transition which is very difficult, which is very painful, but we should be patient. We should be very much optimistic." The ambassador said, "Italy has been very close to Pakistan since the foundation of the Pakistani State and has built over the years a lively economic co-operation. We are not only looking with pride to the achievements of the past, we are also looking with expectation to the opportunities of the future.