Australia restates long-term commitment with Pakistan

Two conferences to help boost bilateral trade: High Commissioner

FPCCI delegation to attend Commonwealth moot, explore opportunities

Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan Tim George on Thursday said that his country is committed to development of Pakistan and we will continue to help Islamabad in through thick and thin.

Long-term commitment, sustainable and equitable socio-economic progress of the people of Pakistan is among our major aims, he added.

Talking to a delegation headed by President FPCCI Senator Haji Ghulam Ali, he said that upcoming meeting of Joint Trade Committee and Commonwealth ministers meeting will help boost ties as current trade with stands at $800 million only while trade with China is 100 billion dollars.

Tim George the envoy of the sixth-largest country and thirteenth largest economy said that Pakistani business community should start looking at opportunities in the south.

Australia exports more to Pakistan in one month than Islamabad exports to Australia in a year which needs to be balanced, he said.

He said that our 1.1 trillion GDP is equal to that of ASEAN and we have a very conducive environment adding that companies in the two countries need to know more about each other.

Tim George said that Pakistan needs to learn to add value to agricultural products. He added that we are counter-seasonal countries which make Australia a big market for Pakistan fruits and vegetables but locals are not aware of this.

He said that we have become third most favourite destination for Pakistani students after US and UK which is very encouraging.

“Pakistan is playing a very important role in the development of the continent and I believe that Pakistan has all the prerequisites to become a major economic power,” he said.

At the occasion President FPCCI Senator Ghulam Ali said that FPCCI delegation will participate in Commonwealth moot scheduled on Oct 28 and explore business opportunities.

He said that we want durable relations with Australia which has been supporting Pakistan in good and bad times.

VP FPCCI Amir Atta Bajwa said that we want enhanced cooperation in upgrading dairy and citrus production.

Australian cooperation is needed to boost our ailing agricultural sector which is backbone of the economy, said Bajwa.

Chairman Media FPCCI Malik Sohail thanks the Australian government for working with Islamabad to overcome the floods crisis. He lauded the efforts to stabilize Pakistan’s economy.

We will achieve goals including overcoming energy crisis with the cooperation of the 15th richest nation in per capita terms, said Sohail.

Others present on the occasion included VP FPCCI Fazl Elhai, Kunwar Qutubuddin Khan, Fayaz Ali, Samina Fazil.

The diplomats present in the meeting included Paul Molloy, Deputy High Commissioner, Azhar Shah, Country Manager AusTrade, Kevin Cunnington, First Secretary, Peter Bartlett, First Secretary, Charlotte Kennedy, Third Secretary, Emilia Christoforou , Imran khan, Political Officer and Fatima Inayet, Media and Political Officer.