‘EU market access will strengthen economy’

Denmark assures support to Pakistan in acquiring GSP plus status.

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that greater trade access in the European Union (EU) markets will facilitate and support the Pakistani economy.

He expressed these views while talking to the Danish Foreign Minister Villy Sovndal who called on the President at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Wednesday.

President Zardari while welcoming the foreign minister to Pakistan felicitated Denmark on assuming the rotating presidency of the European Council for the seventh time.

At the meeting Zardari said that Pakistan wishes to build a broad-based substantive and long-term equation with Denmark.

The president said that the two countries must work together in translating their friendly relations to boost trade and economic interaction. The existing bilateral trade volume does not commensurate with the available potential, Zardari remarked. President Zardari while emphasising upon the need to institutionalise the economic interaction proposed that a joint working group on economic cooperation may be established to promote mutual commerce activities.

The president added that the success of various Danish companies running profitable business ventures in Pakistan is suffice to encourage other investors to make their investments in the country and reap benefits from investment friendly environment Pakistan offers to foreign investors. He also thanked the Danish government for its support to Pakistan in getting Autonomous Trade Package and inclusion of Pakistan in the GSP plus scheme. He expressed the hope that the package will be finalised and implemented soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2012.