SIALKOT City News

Pakistan, France should cooperate

for bright future of coming generations

Envoy says French govt always welcomes Pakistani students, but their number is low;

it’s wish of France that UK should remain EU member

From Our Correspondent

SIALKOT: French Ambassador Martine Dorance has said that Pakistan and France have been enjoying cordial relations based upon mutual trust and cooperation since the emergence of Pakistan on August 14, 1947 and the bilateral relations are heading towards even further betterment and improvement.

Addressing local industrialists and exporters at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Monday, she said that top level government functionaries from both countries had been busy holding meetings, which was evident that many measures were being considered to further strengthen the bilateral relations. She said that volume of bilateral trade was 1 billion Euros at present and hoped that it would increase in the years to come.

The envoy said that the French government had always welcomed the Pakistani students, intending to study in the French educational institutions, but the number of such students was low. In order to increase the bilateral cooperation in the education sector, talks with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairman were under way, she added. She said that Pakistan and France should cooperate each other not only to improve the bilateral trade ties, but to secure a bright and safe future for coming generations. She proposed that France should promote soccer in Pakistan, which in return must play its part for growth of cricket in France. She urged the local business community to come forward and invest in the west and diverse markets of France and enjoy the benefits of fair competition. Martine Dorance stressed the local exporters that they must get the benefit of the GSP plus status to increase their exports to the European Union. She praised the unique export oriented culture of Sialkot and said that Sialkot had achieved a special status in the world due to manufacturing and export of top quality sports goods, surgical items, leather products and musical instruments, etc. She revealed that Sialkot had a share of 8 per cent in the total exports from Pakistan to France. She appreciated the local business community for successfully accomplishing the mega project of Sialkot International Airport in the private sector on self-help basis. She termed the Sialkot business community as a role model for the business community of the world.

To a question, Martine Dorance said that it was the wish of France that the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union. She, however, said that the final verdict from the people of the UK in this regard would be welcomed and honoured. Later, Martine Dorance visited a number of factories. SCCI vice-presidents Sarfraz Butt and Ehtsham Gillani, Asim Shafiq Sulehria, Muhammad Waseem, Sh Adnan Sethi, Mirza Zeeshan Zaib, M Ibrahim, Mohsin Gull, Mian Hamza Janjua and others were also present on the occasion.