KARACHI - Pakistan offers a tremendous potential for investments. This was stated by the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Michael Koch. He was talking to the media men at a local hotel on Wednesday afternoon. When a reporter asked: Is Pakistan a safe place for investment? Dr. Koch replied: I think that Pakistan offers tremendous potential for investment. He further stated that Pakistan is the sixth largest country in the world- twice as large as Germany. The German Envoy repeated that there is a great deal of potential for investment in Pakistan and that 'we encourage the German companies to make use of that potential for the benefit of this country as well as for the benefit of Germany. He pointed out that the bilateral trade volume of Pakistan and Germany is to the tune of over two billion dollars which is important for Pakistan but for the Germany this is very very small. Dr. Koch said that his challenge was as to how this trade between our two countries can be increased. He stated that he would also love to have expansion in the academic contacts and the cultural exchanges. I do not see any area of difficulty. I see a great deal of potential, the German Envoy remarked. However, he also mentioned the present day economic downturn and said that it is generally assumed that Germany in the year 2009 will have a decrease of gross national product of six percent. Dr. Koch further stated that Pakistan has also been affected by the economic downturn. Replying a question, he was appreciative of the role of the Pakistani security forces for their action against the militants in the NWFP, FATA and Malakand areas. Dr. Koch said that we welcome that the challenge of extremism has been taken up in such an energetic manner and that this is the right way forward. The Consul General of Germany in Karachi, Dr. Christian Brecht, was also present on the occasion.