Danish trade delegation in a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here on Wednesday has shown interest for investment in various sectors in Punjab. Led by Danish Ambassador in Pakistan Jesper Moller Sorensen, the first official-level trade delegation of Denmark currently visiting Pakistan met Punjab Chief Minister and discussed matters regarding promotion of bilateral co-operation in trade, investment, livestock & dairy development, renewable energy, environmental protection, engineering, technology, mining and other sectors.
The Danish trade delegation and heads of various companies expressed keen interest in promotion of co-operation in trade, investment and other sectors in Pakistan especially Punjab and it was agreed that bilateral trade and economic relations would be further strengthened.
Director Confederation of Danish Industry Jens Holst-Nielsen said that steps would be taken for strengthening co-operation with Pakistan in different sectors so that the volume of bilateral trade could be increased and economic relations could be strengthened. Talking on the occasion, Shahbaz Sharif said there were strong economic relations between Pakistan and Denmark; however, there was a need for further promotion of trade and economic co-operation between the two countries. All out measures would be taken for that purpose, he added.
He said there was a vast scope of investment in power, renewable energy, livestock & dairy development, mining, environmental protection and other sectors in Punjab and Danish companies should benefit from those investment opportunities. He said that a conducive atmosphere had been created in the province for investment and all necessary facilities were being provided to investors under one roof.
The CM said Punjab was an agrarian province and there was a vast scope of promotion of agro-based industries in the province. He said that co-operation of Denmark in agriculture sector especially modern agri farming would be welcomed. "Pakistan wants to expand its economic and trade ties with Denmark and the Danish investors can fully benefit from investment opportunities in Pakistan especially Punjab," he added.
He said "all necessary facilities are being offered to foreign investors in Punjab and Danish investors will also be facilitated," adding development projects were being completed speedily and in a transparent manner in the province. He said that government was working on a massive project of supply of potable water to the citizens and Danish investors could cooperate in waste water treatment and supply of drinking water. He said Pakistan was facing energy crisis and besides, traditional methods, the government was also paying attention to renewable energy sources for overcoming shortage of electricity. He said the work was also being carried out on projects of generation of power from solar, biomass, biogas and wind and Danish companies could extend co-operation in this regard.
He said first and a unique project of solar power was being set up in South Punjab and a 100-megawatt solar power project in Bahawalpur was in the final stages of completion and would soon start production. The Danish Ambassador, while speaking on the occasion, said his country wanted to promote trade and economic relations with Pakistan especially Punjab. He said the first official level trade delegation of Denmark had come to Pakistan and had held useful negotiations with Pakistani authorities. He said Denmark would extend all out co-operation for the promotion of trade and investment in various sectors in the country and further progress would be made after reviewing the prospects in this regard.
The Danish trade delegation included Thomas-Hagen Frederiksen, Leif Pederson, Ole Christensen, Anjum Parvaiz, Rizwan Ali, Yawar Ali Abidi and others. Provincial Ministers Chaudhry Muhammad Shafiq, Khalil Tahir Sindhu, Begum Zakia Shahnawaz, Secretaries of Industry, Minerals, Labour, Livestock & Dairy Development, Special Secretary Home and concerned officers were also present on the occasion.
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