Aid for Pakistan: France has allocated over 200 million euros pledged in Tokyo: Envoy

The French government has allocated 73 percent of the total 300 million euros pledged for financial assistance of Pakistan during Tokyo conference of Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP).
"At the Tokyo conference of FoDP in 2009, France had pledged 300 million euros (Rs 33.6 billion) over three years and, after one-and-a-half years, more than half of this pledge has been fulfilled", French Ambassador to Pakistan Daniel Jouanneau said at the 7th Trade Performance Award 2010, organised by Pakistan-France Business Alliance (PFBA) here on Friday.
"The money is there; the implementation of our joint projects has started in our two areas of priority including energy and water", he added. He said: "In energy, we will contribute to enhance the power generation capacity through building or upgrading hydro-power stations, and in water projects, the French technology will help producing a cleaner and, in some cases, drinkable water, in large cities".
He pointed out that the bilateral trade volume between the two countries has reached almost 1 billion euro mark. "We import more and more from Pakistan, and there is a growing trade surplus in favour of Pakistan", he added. He stressed the fact that the French government has not objected to further opening the EU market to Pakistani exports, in spite of the big challenges its textile industry is going through.
"Pakistani exporters have 17 percent share in textile market of France." He said that Paris opened up its market for Pakistani textile goods despite reservations of some local competitors. He said that leading French groups, including Hyperstar and Total, are implementing or considering new investment in Pakistan.
He said that the Carrefour has opened its outlet in Lahore and would soon be making entry in Karachi. He pointed out that out of 33,000 different items available at the store daily, only 700 are imported. However, he said, Pakistan would need to meet the conditions to become eligible for GSP (generalised system of preferences) plus status, which allows manufacturers in developing countries to gain duty-free access to European Union.
Patron-in-Chief of Pakistan France Business Alliance, the Ambassador said that over past years, France had continued to show its solidarity with Pakistan and its support to its economic development. Immediately after the floods, last summer, the French government chartered 5 cargo aircraft, which brought to Pakistan all kinds of equipments for the affected people, distributed by French NGOs. And, France took its share in the European Union's huge solidarity effort, he added.
He appreciated Pakistan-France Business Alliance's contribution in a difficult context. PFBA will continue to build sustainable partnerships between the Pakistan business community and France. "I look at PFBA as a trust building forum", the Ambassador said. Jamil Hamdani, President of PFBA, said that Pakistan Trade Performance Award is a landmark event in the PFBA's Annual Roadmap. The event recognises, and honours, the achievements of Pakistani business leaders who persevered during the year to achieve amazingly high goals. The numbers of participants were higher than last year which demonstrates the importance members attach to this event, he added.
He said that trade between Pakistan and France had shown steady and tangible growth, especially in sectors such as energy, telecommunication, civil aviation and defence. The aim of Pakistan-France Business Alliance is to encourage and strengthen business activities between the companies of France and Pakistan.
The French Ambassador gave away awards to top performing companies. In the home textile category the first award went to Gul Ahmed Textile Mills; in fabric exports category to Naveena Exports; in Garments category to Penna Oversease Corporation; in information & technology category to Infotel Pakistan; in chemicals category to S I Chemicals; in diagnostics & lab equipment category to Global Marketing Services; in diagnostics & lab equipment category to Sind Medical Stores; in shipping & freight forwarders category to CMA-CGM Pakistan; in surgical goods category to Elmed Instruments; in pharmaceuticals category to Sanofi-Aventis Pakistan; in homeopathy category to Sind Medical Stores; in leather garments category to Nova Leathers; in animal husbandry category to Saadat International; in oil & gas category to Mas Associates; in cosmetics/consumer goods category to Marriana International; in engineering category to Greaves Pakistan; in defence equipment category to Salman & Associates; in automobile category to Anis Tyres; in hospital equipment category to Techno Medical Systems; in livestock category to Grand Parent Poultry; in industrial safety products category to Atlas Exporters and in veterinary surgical instruments category the first award given to Kurdson Industries. Saeed Allawala, Senior Vice President of PFBA, also spoke on this occasion. The French Consul- General and the French Trade Commissioner and a number of business leaders attended the event.