(17 July, 2015)
President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Friday asked the Pakistani and French business community to do their best to improve economic ties.
The efforts of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and COAS Gen. Raheel Sharif is resulting in unprecedented peace in Karachi therefore investors should not delay in exploring opportunities, he said.
Talking to a group of industrialists and investors, he said that Pakistan is soon to become a global economic power with the help of its incredible natural and human resources as civil and military leadership has decided to change things.
Recent signs of Pakistan’s economic growth are encouraging and our country fulfils the conditions to become a highly developed country.
He lauded Paris for cooperating with Islamabad to enhance its exports to the European markets, overcome energy crisis, and improve level of education and civic facilities.
Mian Zahid Hussain said that France can help Pakistan exploit Thar coal and water resources.
France has second largest presence in Pakistan after Germany, 80 French companies are doing business here while 180 companies of the two friendly countries are promoting bilateral trade.
Pakistani businessmen can explore opportunities by learning French which is the official language in 34 countries.
Pakistan is gateway to energy rich central Asia, financially liquid Gulf and advanced Far Eastern countries while Pakistan has world’s second largest salt mine, fifth largest gold mine, fifth largest coal reserves, and seventh largest copper mine.
Pakistan has great potential to export quality fruits, rice, fashion garments, leather and sports goods. The two countries should boost exchange of delegations that will bring business communities together resulting in enhanced trade.
