French companies keen to invest in Pakistan. France eyes business opportunities offered under CPEC
A 21-member delegation of French Business Confederation (MEDEF) is currently on a three-day (April 4-6, 2017) visit to explore business, trade and investment opportunities in Pakistan. Mr. Thierry Pflimin, Chairman of France-Pakistan Business Council of MEDEF is heading the delegation.
“We have identified the fields of cooperation in agriculture, where Pakistan has huge potential, we are interested to invest in infrastructure, energy, agriculture, defence, LNG storage, re-gasification etc, and digital technology sectors,” said Thierry Pflimlin, president of Pakistan France Business Council.
M Thierry PFLIMLIN said the main objective of their visit was exploratory and to understand Pakistan and the business opportunities it offered.
The French delegation met Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal. Its members told the federal minister that they are aware of the rapidly changing situation as the CPEC is creating huge investment opportunities in Pakis
M Thierry PFLIMLIN lauded the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), adding that Europe could also bring in investment for increased cooperation with Pakistan.
French companies delegation in their three-day program will provide broader opportunities in understanding Pakistani economic priorities and the business environment, as well as to engage in fruitful discussions with the Pakistani business community, particularly with members of the Pakistan Business Council.
They also appreciated that Pakistan had highly professional and educated people. The French delegation also called on President Mamnoon Hussain and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest.
The reception was attended among others by federal ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Sikandar Hayat Bosan and Senator Lt Gen (R)Abdul Qayyum.
The delegation will visit Karachi on Wednesday where Federal Ministers, other highest political authorities from provincial bodies will take part and some industrial visits will also be organized in Karachi.
This visit will be a concrete follow-up of the meeting organized in MEDEF headquarters in Paris in September 2016 between French companies and HE Mr. Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister of Finance and Economic affairs, that was accompanied by HE Mr. Miftah Ismail, Chairman of the Board of Investment, and a Pakistani business delegation.
According to Thierry Pflimin, “such business delegation – the first one since 2005 – embodies the existing momentum in the economic bilateral relationship and is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen commercial and industrial partnerships between France and Pakistan.