US keen to explore LNG export to Pakistan

Wants to cooperate in energy sector, says embassy official

ISLAMABAD: The United States is keen to cooperate with Pakistan in the energy sector, said Counsellor for Economic Affairs at the US Embassy in Islamabad William (Chip) Laitinen.

Addressing the business community during his visit to the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), he said that many US companies were interested to explore Pakistan for the export of LNG, adding that the country could overcome its energy shortages by developing close ties with the US.



He said that US was one of the largest export destinations for Pakistan and bilateral trade between the two countries was improving.

“USAID is working in Pakistan to contribute for improving its economy,” said Laitinen, adding that Pakistan has taken advantages of US’s GSP scheme as its exports to US were improving.

Laitinen said that US wanted continuous engagement with Pakistan for economic benefit of both countries and added that people to people contacts were important to realise these objectives.  Also speaking on the occasion, ICCI President Khalid Iqbal Malik said that Pakistan and the US have a broad and multi-faceted partnership in areas ranging from education to energy to trade and investment.

“However, bilateral trade between the two countries was still not up to its real potential.”



Malik stressed that private sectors of both countries should be given enhanced role to improve trade relations. He said GSP scheme of US should be further extended for Pakistan and more Pakistani products should be given easy market access in US.

The ICCI president said that Pakistan was an agricultural country and US should cooperate with it in upgrading its agriculture sector on modern lines.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2017.

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