Netherland wants to establish relationship with Pakistan on equality and move forward from one-way donorship to two-way business ties. Ambassador of Kingdom of Netherland to Pakistan Marcel de Vink stated this at an inauguration of Dutch Business Circle in Pakistan on Thursday night.
“Netherland felt that it would be the right time to start a new era of trade with Pakistan when new democratically-elected government sworn in,” he expressed. “Willingness of the present government to improve economic condition of the country and some initiatives in this regards at its onset has attracted a number of Dutch businessmen and we are here to launch a business circle,” he added.
“But we want to strengthen bilateral ties with people of Pakistan instead of the government,” the ambassador said, adding that “If launch of business circle stood successful then it would help Pakistan to attract more Dutch companies to Pakistan.”
Netherland encouraged the new Pakistani government which had committed itself to deal with challenges that condition the investment climate and had unfolded new policy initiatives in the financial, economic and energy field,” he said, adding that “While such new policies certainly demonstrate the will to tackle the problems but implementation of these policies is the key to success.
“Tackling the energy crisis, improving tax collection, investing in infrastructure and human capital, curbing corruption and ending terrorism and violence are crucial to create a thriving business environment in Pakistan,” the ambassador observed, adding that “It is true that Pakistan currently offering high yields to many investors who came here in spite of these challenges, but in my views Pakistan can and should be more than just a market for adventurous investors.
“We named this platform a business circle instead of chamber, council or forum where no one has a special place at the table and where the small, big, old and new companies participation would be treated on equality basis,” the ambassador briefed, adding that “The circle would be informal, flexible and provide opportunity to the businessmen for creating friendly relationships instead of dictation.” Recalling the history of bilateral ties between the two countries, he said the business ties between Netherlands and Pakistan go back a long way. “More than 350 years ago, we have first business contact when Dutch East Indies Company established a trading post not far from here at Thatta,” he recalled.
“With the seaport of Rotterdam -the largest in Europe- and the airport of Amsterdam, the Netherlands is a gateway, linking Europe with other continents,” he said, adding that “Trade and services are the backbone of the Dutch economy while Dutch expertise in logistics is well-known throughout the world.”
