Economic cooperation: Netherlands keen to help Pakistan in various areas

Can provide expertise for power generation and alternative energy.

ISLAMABAD:

Netherlands is an advanced economy with the technology and expertise to help Pakistan with solar, wind, coal and bio-mass power generation to mitigate its energy woes, said First Secretary/Head Economic Affairs of Netherlands Embassy Robert Dresen, during a visit to Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI).

He said Netherlands is amongst the top 20 economies of the world with GDP of $820 billion while Pakistan is emerging as a huge consumer market, adding that Netherlands wants to cooperate with Pakistan in power generation, energy saving, shipping, ports development, water purification, dairy farming agriculture etc. to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

He said Netherlands has special technology and expertise in de-silting of dams and Dutch companies can help de-silt Tarbela and Mangla dams which will help improve Pakistan’s energy supply. He said Pakistan can also benefit from the Dutch Private Sector Investment program which aims to stimulate growth and create jobs in emerging markets.

Netherlands is a global hub for innovation and high tech value added products, said Dresen, and Pakistan can reap rich economic benefits by improving collaboration with Netherlands in areas of mutual interest.

He added that Pakistan can achieve phenomenal results by using Dutch agricultural innovations, which have allowed the Netherlands to become the second largest exporter of agricultural products in the world despite limited agricultural land.

Speaking at the occasion President ICCI Zafar Bakhtawari said that the energy crisis has badly affected trade and industry and stressed that Pakistan should seriously consider cooperation with the Netherlands, especially for de-silting its dams to increase cheap hydro power generation.

He said bilateral trade between Pakistan and Netherlands is still below $1 billion while both countries have good potential to work together in many areas including energy, IT and hi-tech industries, agriculture, dairy farming, logistics, chemicals, water and environment for trade and joint ventures. He underlined that governments of both countries should facilitate their businessmen in enhancing collaboration in these areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2013.

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