Security situation in Pakistan is improving satisfactorily and I am visiting Paris next week to convince French investors to come and invest in Pakistan with an open heart and mind, said Madame Martine Dorance Ambassador of France in Pakistan.
Addressing the business community of Faisalabad at FCCI office, she said that it is her first visit to Faisalabad and she was surprised to witness the dynamism of the city. She said that Pakistan and France have cordial relations in the fields of commerce and education. She said that Faisalabad is very suitable city for French collaboration in the fields of textile, agro-industry and agro products. She said that Pakistan should try to enter into fashion garment industry of France and in this connection Pakistani exporters should consider to launch joint ventures with French businessmen.
She said that much has been done and more should be done from both sides to fully capitalise the potentials of the two countries. She said that France has played its role in the grant of GSP Plus to Pakistan. It is very good opportunity for Pakistan to strengthen its economy by fully utilising this status.
She also appreciated the idea of sending FCCI delegation to France and assured full support from her side. She also mentioned that Pakistan Embassy in Paris is very dynamic and will also help Pakistan in arranging their meetings with French investors. She said that Pakistani investors should also explore the opportunity of investing in France which is located in the heart of EU.
Regarding visa issues, she said that businessmen should apply for Schangin visa approximately 45 days before the departure, adding that France is ready to support Pakistan but Pakistan should also help her so that it could continue to help Pakistan.
Aric NOITAKIS, Economic Counsellor and Head of the Economic Department, Embassy of France said that Pakistan is one of the major textile countries but it is surprising that most of the machinery installed in Faisalabad is imported from Switzerland, Germany and Japan.
He said that Pakistan should import French machinery also to strengthen our bilateral trade ties. He also asked Pakistani exporters to start lobbying to hold fashion garment shows in Paris as a marketing tool of their textile products export like India. He also pointed out that Pakistan should be aware of Chinese investors who could set up their textile units to export to EU under GSP Plus facility.
Regarding 27 Conventions tagged with GSP Plus Status, he said that it is not the demand of the Franc or EU but it is international commitment of Pakistan which should be fulfilled and honoured.
Earlier Engr Rizwan Ashraf, President FCCI in his welcome address said that Pakistan is an energy starved country and Chinese investment is focused towards energy related projects. He said that Pakistan is 5th largest cotton producing country in the world with huge infrastructure of all types of Pakistani textile products. He said that we are exporting only US $13 billion as against our potential of US $26 billion. He said that our industrial units are under-utilised and by providing energy, we can easily increase our exports to the required targets.
Earlier, one minute silence was observed to pay tribute to the diplomats who had lost their lives in Naltar helicopter crash.
President Engineer Rizwan Ashraf presented a shield to Madam Martine Dorance while Nadeem Allah Wala senior vice president gave away a memento of FCCI to Economic consular Aric Madam Martine also presented a gift to Engineer Rizwan Ashraf.
Later, Inaam Afzal Khan Vice president FCCI thanked the participants of the meeting.
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