Ambassadors-designate to Sudan, Germany call on president

ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday underscored that Pakistan’s vision for Africa is to develop strong, close and cooperative relations by enhancing trade, investment and defence cooperation and establishing joint ventures with the African countries.

Talking to Pakistan’s ambassador-designate to Sudan Zahid Ali, who called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the president said that Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with Sudan and called for diversifying and strengthening relations with countries of the African continent. He noted that Pakistan’s annual trade of about $3 billion with all African countries was far below its potential and called for making concerted efforts to further expand the trade relations.

The president asked the ambassador-designate to also look after the interests and welfare of Pakistani diaspora in Sudan. He congratulated the ambassador-designate on his appointment to Sudan and wished him well in discharge of his new responsibilities.

Later, the president emphasized that Pakistan’s investment policy needs to be promoted and German investors may be encouraged to invest in diverse areas, particularly the energy sector.

While talking to Pakistan’s ambassador-designate to Germany Jauhar Saleem, who called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, the president said that Germany was an important political and economic partner of Pakistan and efforts should be directed towards enhancing bilateral trade and promoting exchange of parliamentary, business and cultural delegations. He underlined that Germany was Pakistan’s largest trading partner in Europe, adding that there was potential to further enhance the trade between the two countries. He said that a large number of Pakistani students were studying in Germany and stressed upon developing linkages between Pakistani and German universities to promote education in Pakistan.

He noted that Pakistan has one of the largest communities in Germany and advised the ambassador-designate to maintain close liaison with the community and extend maximum assistance to them. He congratulated the ambassador-designate on his appointment to Germany and wished him well in discharge of his new responsibilities.