Bilateral relations: Romanian envoy calls for greater economic ties

Says both countries can greatly benefit from each other through trade

Romanian envoy has called for enhancing economic and trade ties with Pakistan.

Pakistan holds huge economic potential because of its strategic location, said Romanian Ambassador Emilian Ion on Wednesday.

He was speaking at a talk on Pakistan-Romanian relations organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) under its “Ambassadors Platform” series.

It needs to be followed up by the Pakistan-Romania Business Council, he added.

The ambassador said that the present trade figure was more than $300 million, adding both countries could further benefit from each other through increase in trade.



He said that Pakistan was a cultural treasure trove.

The ambassador further mentioned that Romanian imports from Pakistan included cotton, surgical instruments and shoes.

He said that the demand for Romanian flowers and canola, among other things, was increasing in Pakistan.

Pakistan-Romanian relationship has many aspects that have evolved since establishment of the diplomatic relations in 1964, the ambassador said.

He said that the countries had developed strong economic, trade and cultural relations rooted in decades old history.

Ion said that the two countries had also agreed to expand their bilateral defence cooperation.

He pointed out that Romania built the first oil refinery in Karachi, as well as fibre optic plants.

Ion said that there were also numerous joint ventures in the field of education.

The ambassador thanked Pakistani people for their hospitality during his stay in the country.

Earlier, the ISSI Board of Governors Chairperson ambassador (retd) Khalid Mahmood called Ion a seasoned diplomat in both bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.

He applauded the contribution Ambassador Ion had made in reviving Pakistan-Romania relationship.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2016.