Daily Times
* Pakistan looking forward to increased cooperation with Italy
* Italian businessmen say interested in investing in Pakistan
ROME: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday called for enhanced access to the European Union markets, saying it would strengthen Pakistan’s economy.
During his meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano at the presidential palace in Rome, President Zardari said Europe should weigh the impact of militancy on a nation while considering giving access to its markets.
Briefing reporters on the meeting, the president’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said increased cooperation with Italy in agriculture, edible oil and leather sectors, export of semi-skilled and unskilled manpower and technology for mining and shaping marble were also discussed.
President Zardari said Pakistan looked forward to increased cooperation with Italy in these sectors.
Support: The president thanked Italy for supporting Pakistan in the European Union on the enhanced market access on the issues of the Generalised System of Preferences Plus scheme and free trade agreements.
On the fight against the Taliban, Zardari recalled how the Taliban had been created decades ago as the result of a deliberate policy to engage religious fanaticism for the achievement of certain strategic objectives.
Investors: Also on Tuesday, leading Italian business executives and industrialists expressed keen interest in investing in various sectors of Pakistan’s economy, including agriculture, transport, oil and gas, textile and infrastructure.
Chairing ‘Investment Colloquium’, President Asif Zardari said Pakistan was the hub of future economic ventures with several untapped potentials, which provided tremendous opportunity for foreign investment. app
Let’s rewind back to September 2008. Pakistan was in the midst of arguably the worst crisis of its modern history. After the assassination of Mohatarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, there was a lack of leadership at the national level. It was at this critical time of Pakistan’s history that Zardari became the president and within a year we have witnessed a mighty transformation in our fortunes. Zardari not only won favor of international community for Pakistan but also urged to invest in Pakistan. Those who are criticizing him for begging must read his statement in which he has asked world community trade not aid.
He has said that We expect our friends and allies to make a correct assessment of the challenges we face and to help us.” It is important that Pakistan is allowed market access to the European Union. We need trade, and not aid. He stressed the need for turning the Friends of Pakistan group into “a truly successful enterprise. For more click the following link.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=198963