ISLAMABAD: The Ambassador of France to Pakistan Marc Baréty here onThursday said that his country wanted enhanced trade with Pakistan as itwas a potential market for trade and investment.
He said 80 million strong middle class of Pakistan was an attractive marketfor French companies due to which they were taking more interest inPakistan.
He said that current volume of bilateral trade was not reflective of truepotential of both countries and it could be further enhanced by strongefforts from both sides.
He was addressing the business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce &Industry.
The French Envoy said that Pakistan and France were doing trade in limiteditems and both should focus on diversification of trade to achieve betterresults.
He said that EU’s GSP Plus facility to Pakistan has enabled it to enhance60% exports to European Union countries.
However, he added that instead of relying on textiles products, Pakistanshould focus on value added agro food products, medical appliances, dairyproducts and others to further enhance its exports to EU including France.
He said renewable energy items, turbines for hydropower, pharmaceuticals,agriculture, energy, water and helicopters were other potential areas ofmutual cooperation between Pakistan and France.
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He said a Doing Business in Pakistan Forum was held for French companies inDubai and another will be held in near future to attract more Frenchcompanies towards Pakistan. He assured that French Embassy would assistPakistani business community in doing business with France.
Speaking at the occasion, Ahmed Hassan Moughal, President, IslamabadChamber of Commerce and Industry said that Pak-France bilateral trade in2017 was around €1.4 billion, which was not encouraging.
He said that both countries should focus on promoting business linkagesbetween private sectors for further improve bilateral trade volume.
He said many Pakistani products including sports goods, surgicalinstruments, leather products, gloves of all sorts, textiles items, sportswears, uniforms & accessories, musical instruments, kitchen ware, cutleryitems and military uniform badges could find good market in France andFrance should import these products from Pakistan.
Rafat Farid Senior Vice President and Iftikhar Anwar Sethi Vice PresidentICCI said that Chamber would like to work closely with France Embassy forpromoting B2B contacts between private sectors of both countries in orderto further improve bilateral trade and economic relations between Pakistanand France.
They said French investors should explore Pakistan for JVs and investmentin various sectors of Pakistan’s economy.
