MULTAN-Ambassador of Argentina in Pakistan Rodolfo J Martin Saravia has said that his country is willing to extend cooperation to Pakistan in energy, agriculture and gas sectors.
Addressing the local business community at Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), he added that an all-out effort would be made to boost trade with Pakistan, adding that both the countries already enjoyed strong relations. He pointed out that there was also a great scope of cooperation between the two countries in other sectors like textile, pharmaceuticals, livestock, dairy and agriculture. He said that Pakistan was a huge market for meat and Argentine could help in meat processing for its export and local consumption. Commenting on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) crisis currently being faced by Pakistan, he opined the CNG crises being faced today was due to wrong policies.
The envoy added that ceramics industry should be promoted and a modern institute should be built in Multan with the help of MCCI. For the purpose, Rodolfo Martin Saravia said 200,000 trees would be planted at Nishtar Medical Institute (NMI) under the Green Multan project.
He said Green Nishtar was a pilot project under the Green Multan project launched by the envoy at Nishtar Medical College by planting ficus retuse. He said they would continue the campaign in the city to give the city a ‘green look’.
He said it was important to invest in eco-friendly programmes. He said the hospital cared for about 2,000 patients daily and had a campus for education of doctors and nurses attached to it. He said it was important for the facility to be green.
Saravia pointed out both the countries had been enjoying good bilateral trade relations for the last 25 years and the trade volume had always been in favour of Argentine except for the last year when it went Pakistan’s favour. He stressed upon Pakistani businessmen to focus on diversifying exports to Argentine as sticking to the trade of just traditional goods would never yield positive results.
Terming the mangoes of Multan the best, he urged the mango growers to use proper system of packaging to boost their exports. He added that efforts should be made for enhancing exchange of trade delegations and interaction between the private sectors of Pakistan and Argentine. He admitted that the applicants faced some difficulties in issuance of business visas, asking the applicants to fulfil all requirements to get their visas processed and issued quickly.