Bilateral relations: Govt has fostered investor-friendly atmosphere

Danish trade delegation calls on chief minister.


Our Correspondent October 22, 2014

LAHORE:


Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday stressed the need to promote bilateral trade and economic cooperation between Denmark and Pakistan.


He was speaking to the first official level Danish delegation visiting Pakistan. Sharif said there were scores of investment opportunities in energy, mining, environmental protection, livestock and dairy development.  He said the government had created an investor-friendly atmosphere in the Punjab and was striving to provide them with all facilities under one roof.

Danish Ambassador Jesper Moller Sorensen was leading the delegation. Matters of mutual interest were discussed in the meeting. Potential areas for cooperation including engineering, technology, mining, environmental protection, livestock and dairy development were also reviewed.  The delegation members expressed interest in promoting trade and interest. They also agreed on the need to strengthen economic relations between the two countries.



Sharif said the Punjab was an agrarian province and there were scores of investment opportunities in agro-based industries. He said Danish assistance regarding modern agricultural techniques and practices would be welcomed. Sharif said Pakistan wanted to strengthen relations with Denmark and Danish investors should take advantage of investment opportunities in the Punjab.  He said the government had been extending all kinds of facilities to investors and Danish investors would also be welcomed.

The chief minister said the government had quickly completed several development projects transparently. He said the measures taken by the government to promote education, health, livestock, agriculture, transport and infrastructure had yielded good results. Sharif said the government was working on a massive project to provide the people with potable water.  He said Danish investors could invest in waste water treatment projects. Sharif said they could also invest in projects to provide the people with clean drinking water.

He said Pakistan was fighting an energy crisis and the government was reviewing alternate sources of power generation to overcome the challenge. He said work on solar, wind, biogas, biomass and bio-oil powered projects was progressing.  Sharif said a unique solar power project was being completed in south Punjab and a solar park in Bahawalpur was nearing completion.

Ambassador Sorensen said Denmark wanted to cement its relations with Pakistan. He said the delegation had held constructive talks with Pakistani authorities in their visit. Ambassador Sorensen said Denmark would strive to facilitate cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Confederation of Danish Industry Director Jens Holst-Nielsen said steps would be taken to facilitate trade and investment to increase the volume of trade between the countries.

The delegation included Thomas-Hagen Frederiksen, Leif Pederson, Ole Christensen, Anjum Pervaiz, Rizwan Ali, and Yawar Ali Abidi. Ministers Chaudhry Muhammad Shafiq, Khalil Tahir Sindhu, Begum Zakiya Shahnawaz and several government officials were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2014.

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