ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Morocco, H.E Mohamed Karmoune has said that Morocco is the gateway to Europe, which has free trade agreements with African countries and the European Union. Pakistan can take full advantage of these agreements through Morocco. He said that in a meeting with members of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Ambassador visited FPCCI on the invitation of the President Atif Ikram Sheikh.
Member National Assembly and former Senior Vice President FPCCI Mirza Ikhtiar Baig and Honorary Consul General Morocco and Chairman Pakistan-Morocco Business Council Mirza Ishtiaq Baig and Malik Sohail Hussain were also present in the meeting.
Ambassador said that Morocco has very important sectors in which Pakistani investors can invest. Business activities like single country exhibition can be worked on. Morocco has ten major ports, large scale investment in telecommunication, energy, banking system.
Mirza Ishtiaq Baig said that Pakistan and Morocco have very important areas for mutual trade. We will soon go to Morocco with a big delegation which will meet the head of the government there. We went to Morocco with a delegation last year too, we organized there Biryani Festival, Pakistani rice, which is the best in the world and in great demand there.
Atif Ikram Sheikh said that direct flights should be started between Pakistan and Morocco. Trade between Morocco is less than the original potential. Joint ventures in new sectors should be initiated. CPEC in Pakistan will be a major center of trade in the future. Morocco can join to take full advantage of this connectivity with China and Central Asia.
Pakistan has a lot of scope in agriculture, tourism. We will soon be taking a delegation to Morocco to hold B2B meetings with businessmen there to explore ventures for investment.
Pakistan is a country rich in natural resources, there are vast opportunities for investment in many sectors including tourism, construction, hydro, textile, pink salt, solar power projects, mines and minerals, gemstones, agriculture. Pakistan’s exports to Morocco have increased from $24.85 million in 2018 to $32.06 million in 2022. Efforts must be made to increase this further.
Pakistan Africa Institute for Development and Research (PAIDAR) Launched by ISSI in Islamabad
