French CG for enhanced trade ties with Pakistan

Karachi: Consul General of France Alexis Chahtahtinsky this week urged to improve trade and investment cooperation between France and Pakistan, more contacts needed between the governments and the business communities of the two countries.

The senior diplomat said that Pakistan has a lot to offer to French companies but there were challenges including limitation on sending remittances abroad and restrictions on importing goods which would make difficult for foreign companies including those from France to operate here.

“We hope that these limitations would be temporary and you will be able to find a way out of the current crises and the difficult situation. We can look at the future with optimism as despite these challenges, we have one success story of Lucky Motors and Peugeot in Pakistan which shows us that we can have more success stories,” he added while exchanging views at a meeting with the members of Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI).

Referring to the tragic incident outside Sheraton Hotel in Karachi where nine French engineers, who were working in Pakistan to build submarines, were killed in a bomb blast after 9/11 incident, he said that this incident in Karachi resulted in significantly decreasing the number of French companies operating in Pakistan and created a challenging situation.

“We are trying to get back now by taking more pragmatic steps for developing our bilateral trade and investment relations and we are building on success stories especially in the economic and industrial area. We already have French cars being assembled in Pakistan which means that we can work together and have more such success stories.”

He was of the view that Pakistan was a beautiful country which holds great tourism opportunities and also possesses very richest untapped land while Karachi, being the heart of country’s economic life, can offer a lot to French companies.

He further mentioned that France was also amongst the first nations to react to the devastating floods suffered by Pakistan as the first group of French rescuers arrived in Sindh in August who brought pumps to save submerged substations while the second group of military engineers also arrived in mid-October with a big equipment to convert dirty water into drinkable water which was a great sign of solidarity.

There will be more discussions at other forums on how to help Pakistan including the Donors Conference taking place next year after Pakistan comes forward with a plan for reconstruction.

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