Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Charge De’ Affairs of Portugal to Islamabad, Joao Paulo Sabido Costa, has said that his country is making efforts to enhance trade with Pakistan especially in the sector of textile, chemical industry, aeronautical, marble, dairy farming, agriculture and tourism.

He was speaking during an exclusive interview with the Daily Times . He said that Portugal had softened the visa policy for students and the business community .The delegation of Portuguese parliamentarians under the chairmanship of Speaker Portugal Assembly in June, will meet President , Prime Minister , Speaker National Assembly and Pakistani parliamentarians.

He said that Pakistan had a fairly vast scope in tourism. The business councils of both the countries would arrange an exhibition of Pakistani products in Lisbon next month. Pakistani products have a good demand in Europe . Businessmen from Pakistan can participate in the exhibition as Portugal had a softer visa policy for the investors.

“When I took over my charge here in Islamabad, I tried my level best to increase the trade volume between the two countries on priority basis. For this I visited Lahore, Sahiwal, Gujranwala and other cities to talk with the business community and paved the way for boosting up trade between Pakistan and Portugal”, Sabido Costa added

He admitted that the trade volume between the two countries was very meagre but efforts were being made from both sides to lift it by the end of the current year.

A delegation of Pakistani businessmen visited Portugal in the beginning of this year under the leadership of Chairman Pakistan Portugal Business Council ,Mr. Owais . During the tour both sides agreed to amplify cooperation in different fields.

The delegation of Portuguese investors will pay a reciprocal visit to Pakistan next month. The famous companies from Portugal are already doing business with Pakistan in the sectors of textile , chemical, paper and aeronautical. Pakistan is the biggest market of marble and Portugal wishes to trade in marble and livestock . In addition to this she is also keen to cooperate with Pakistan in the sectors of solar and hydel energy as Portugal is the expert of hydel energy and Pakistan can tackle the energy crisis by taking the advantage of her experience.

The diplomat said that several Pakistani students were performing duties in different universities as faculty, after getting the education from Portugal. Soon the student-exchange programme would be launched between the two countries in which students from school to university level could participate, who can understand the each other‘s culture and atmosphere. He said that in Portugal there are educational institutes of international standard.

He said during his tour to Portugal Federal Minister for Port and Shipping Kamran Michael, has extended invitation to his counterpart and soon the minister for Sea Affairs Anna Paula Vitorino would visit Pakistan and during her visit several agreements would be inked between the two sides.

The Portuguese Charge De’ Affairs said that Pakistan was a country that was full of natural scenery. If law and order situation gets better here and Pakistan introduces its tourism globally, then an enormous number of tourists would visit Pakistan. He said that there are different views about Pakistan among the comity of nations. It is the need of the hour to paint Pakistan’s softer image before the world.

He said that theSufism of Pakistan was incredible. There are many values , which are common in Pakistani and Portuguese culture and music and “work is going on to improve the cooperation between two countries”.

“Portugal’s embassy is holding the free of cost course of Portuguese language in collaboration with Brazil for Pakistani students”. He admired the hospitality of the Pakistani people.