France sees a huge market in Pakistan

Says CPEC poised to create many new business opportunities

ISLAMABAD: Underlining Pakistan’s importance for France, Embassy of France’s Regional Economic Department for India and South Asia Head Jean Marc Fenet has said that his country considers Pakistan as a huge market for business and is keen to further promote bilateral trade and economic relations.

He said France had previously focused on China due to which South Asia was ignored, but now it was looking at South Asia for business.

He said this while speaking to the business community at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Wednesday. He was accompanied by Embassy of France’s Head of Economic Department Philippe Fouet.



Fenet said due to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), France was taking more interest in Pakistan as the project was poised to create many new opportunities for business and investment. He said business was the best way to promote relations between the two countries.

According to Fenet, France has the latest technology and expertise which could help Pakistan boost its economy. He said he would try to visit Pakistan twice a year to identify new areas of mutual cooperation.



Speaking about Brexit, he said the UK was an entry point to the EU, however, Brexit would likely affect Britain more than the EU. He suggested that the ICCI should take a delegation to France to explore new avenues of mutual collaboration.

ICCI President Khalid Iqbal Malik said trade of €1.1 billion between Pakistan and France in 2015 was not up to the real potential of both the countries.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2016.

Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.