ISLAMABAD – President Dr Arif Alvi will inaugurate the two-day EnvoysConference on Africa on Wednesday, being hosted by the Ministry of ForeignAffairs.
The Conference will bring together the Pakistani envoys posted in Africawith important stakeholders including senior leadership from relevantministries and departments and representatives of the private sector.
A Foreign Office statement on Tuesday said Pakistan’s relations withAfrican nations have always been characterized by cordiality, mutual trustand understanding.
“Consistent with the vision of the leadership, and priorities of theGovernment, the Conference aims at deepening Pakistan’s engagement withAfrica in diverse fields,” the statement mentioned.
The Conference participants shall deliberate on ways and means to furtherstrengthen existing relations with African countries and diversify anddeepen political, economic,security and socio cultural ties.
The Conference will also provide leading manufacturers, exporters and ITorganizations the opportunity to brief the Pakistani Envoys on potentialgoods and services which can be exported to African markets.
Africa is the second largest continent of the world with 20% of the world’slandmass and 54 sovereign states,with 1.2 billion people and the largestyouth population on the globe.
Read Top Stories
With a collective GDP of over US $ 2.3 trillion and an import market ofaround $500 billion, most countries in Africa are witnessing stable growth.Due to its rich natural resources and growing middle-class consumer market,the World bank has predicted that most African countries will reach middleincome status by 2025. This presents a tremendous opportunity for Pakistanigoods and services.
As part of UN peace-keeping operations, Pakistan has made a significantcontribution for peace, security and development on the Continent over thepast several decades.
The Conference also envisages interaction with Resident Ambassadors ofAfrica in Pakistan.
The outcome of Conference will be presented to the Prime Minister in theclosing session along with concrete recommendations crafted by the Envoys,proposing a way forward for robust engagement between Pakistan and Africa.
