ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan Friday invited investment by French companies in the food industry, pharmaceuticals, skill development and railways sectors. Talking to Marc Barety, ambassador of France to Pakistan, who called on him here, the minister said that Pakistan’s fast growing economy was opening new avenues for investment. He said that the government would continue to facilitate such initiatives, according to press statement issued by the Finance Ministry. According to the statement, matters relating to Pak-France economic cooperation were discussed in the meeting. Marc Barety informed the Minister about the great importance France attaches to relations with Pakistan the statement said adding that he expressed the hope that during his tenure as Ambassador to Pakistan, bilateral relations between the two countries would be further strengthened. He also hinted at the possibility of greater involvement of the French Development Bank (AFD) in the project financing in Pakistan, which presently hovered around Euro 100-150 million per annum. Published in Daily Times, January 13th 2017.