The visit of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani to France is of great significance and would help to strengthen trade ties between the two countries in the fields of energy, defence, telecommunications and other key sectors.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to France Shafqat Saeed has said the prime minister will hold discussions with the French leadership on a range of topics including security, trade and investment.
He also stressed that Pakistan and France are expected to sign agreements on political and strategic relations, economic and commercial partnership and defence and security related issues.
Ambassador Saeed said during his visit, Prime Minister will meet President Nicholas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon, besides interacting with heads of major energy companies and the business community.
Gilani’s meeting with President Sarkozy will focus on bilateral, regional and international issues and relations in a changing international scenario.
The ambassador said the two countries are also expected to ink a Memorandum of Understanding between the Federation of French Business Corporations and Pakistan Joint Business Council to establish the Pakistan-France Joint Business Council. France and Pakistan traditionally enjoy good trade relations. The volume of bilateral trade stood at $1,106.19 million during last year while exports stood at $682.77 million. Imports were valued at $423.42 million during the same period.
Prime Minister Gilani will also meet the members of the MEDEF -Mouvement des Enterprises de France (Movement of the French Enterprises), the largest union of employers in France. He will also visit French Senate and meet its President besides meeting the French ministers for defence and foreign affairs.
The prime minister’s delegation will comprise Privatisation Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Advisor to PM on minority affairs Dr Paul Jacob Bhatti. President Pakistan Business Council Kamran Mirza and 11 parliamentarians will be part of the entourage.
He said the prime minister, during his meeting with heads of business entities, would inform them about the prospects and opportunities of investment in Pakistan and ensure them they would be provided complete security. It was noted that France can help Pakistan boost its education sector besides providing training in different areas of economy.