Daily Times

The Italian Ambassador to Pakistan, Andreas Ferrarese on Sunday stressed to enhance the bilateral trade between Pakistan and Italy to its full potential from current $1.7 billion to $5 billion annually.

Both sides are interested to achieve the trade balance as currently Pakistan has a trade surplus with Italy in FY 2019-20, the Ambassador said this in an exclusive interview to APP here.

Replying to question, he said that Pakistan exports to Italy were $731million during 2019-20, Pakistan major exports to Italy include leather, rice, ethanol, textiles articles, sets, worn clothing, cotton ,apparel, crocheted, cereals, raw hides and skins, leather, beverages, spirits and vinegar, plastics, footwear and gaiters.The Ambassador said that in FY 2019-20, Pakistan import from Italy at $521 million including ships, boats, and other floating structures, machinery, pharmaceutical product,aircraft, spacecraft, electrical, electronic equipment, Organic chemicals, Iron and steel, miscellaneous chemical products, Optical, photo, technical and medical apparatus.

He said that dairy and livestock, olives and olive products, plastics, the processed food and construction sector were the areas where Italy could extend its cooperation with Pakistan.

While replaying about the expectation of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Pakistan and Italy, he said that Italy was in European Union (EU) Countries and “we are fully supporting Pakistan in Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) status in every review.”

He informed that Pakistan has a share of 10 percent of trade with Italy in the whole contribution with EU countries and in future both sides would extend more cooperation in trade and economy.

The Ambassador informed that Italy has become the largest contributor from the EU in home remittances to Pakistan.

He said that in FY 2019-20, it registered 29% growth which is far higher than our national growth in remittances.

He said that Pakistani workers contributed $142.9 million in home remittances in FY 2019-20, and $111 million in 2018-19.

He said that Italy was the 8th largest economy of the world with $2 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Italy has the 3rd largest economy in the European Union (EU) after Germany and France and Pakistan`s 9th top export destination, he added.

The Ambassador Ferrarese said that a new economic mission would also be established in Pakistan to enhance trade and economic connectivity with Pakistan.

He said that “I want to open up a cultural centre, maybe in one part of the new embassy, and promote Italian cuisine, art, paintings, music so that the Pakistanis can know more about Italy.”

Replying to a question, he said that his predecessor, Stefano Pontecorvo, was a seasoned economist and he tried his best to enhance the overall volume of bilateral trade.

He said that COVID-19 wasted our efforts and then he had to start afresh to give a quantum jump to the bilateral trade between Pakistan and Italy.

Ambassador Ferrarese also stressed the need for the importance of cultural connectivity to promote trade and said that he would encourage exchange of students to further strengthen bilateral relations.