Concluding his official visit to Paris, Finance Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar met with French Finance Minister Michel Sapin and discussed trade, investment, and economic relations between the two countries.
This was his second meeting with French counterpart in the last three months, a press statement received here on Saturday said.
Minister Sapin congratulated the finance minister on joining the Open Government Partnership process.
He also appreciated the ratification by Pakistan of the OECD Convention on Mutual Assistance on Tax Matters.
He acknowledged Pakistan’s economic achievements and expressed hope that the journey towards further progress and development would continue.
The finance minister apprised him of the importance Pakistan attached to transparency in public matters and his intention to make Pakistan a member of the OECD convention against bribery in due course.
The finance minister briefed Sapin on the turnaround of Pakistan’s economy in the last three years, macroeconomic stability, and improvement of energy and security situation in the country, which has provided a welcoming atmosphere for foreign direct investment.
Both the ministers also discussed trade, economic and investment relations between the two countries.
While expressing satisfaction over the upward trajectory of bilateral relations, including decision by French automobile company Renault to start manufacturing vehicles in Pakistan, they emphasized the need to further strengthen ties through the institutional mechanism of Administrative, Economic and Trade Committee (AETC).
They agreed, in principle, to upgrade the AETC to ministerial level, the statement added.
The finance minister invited Sapin to visit Pakistan to co-chair the next meeting of the AETC. Prior to that, both sides would meet early next year in Secretary-level discussions to prepare the ground for the ministerial meeting.
Secretary Economic Affairs Division and ambassador of Pakistan to France were also present at the meeting.