Agriculture, livestock major potential of GB region: Italian envoy

ISLAMABAD, Feb 07 (DNA): Ambassador of Italy to Pakistan Andreas
Ferrarese on Sunday said Gilgit Baltistan has huge potential in
agriculture and livestock and transfer of technology would be must to
promote the value addition in these sectors.

Gilgit Baltistan is potential region for promoting the agriculture, live
stock, horticulture and tourism and Italian government can cooperate to
enrich the true potential of these sectors, Ambassador, Andreas
Ferrarese said this in follow-up meeting to Chairman Pakistan Federation
Chamber of Commerce and industry (FPCCI) Capital Office, Qurban Ali
here.

The Ambassador said currently Italy was providing technical assistance
in Agriculture and horticulture upgradation through modern machinery,
value addition in agriculture, livestock and tourism sectors in the
region, said a news release.

He said Pakistan was working to expand it to Agricultural items
including dairy and livestock, olives and olive products, plastics,
processed food and construction sector in Italian market.

Andreas Ferrarese underlined the importance of promoting cultural
connectivity with Pakistan and regional cultures to promote bilateral
trade.

The Ambassador said that dairy and Agriculture and livestock, cherries
and cherries products, processed food and the construction sector were
the areas where Italy could extend its cooperation with Pakistan.

He also agreed to provide ease for the family VISAs to Pakistani
businessmen and traders to further promote business to business ties
between Pakistan and Italy.

“Simplification of the VISA process and procedure is the top priority of
the Italian embassy in Islamabad” he said.

He said that this would help business communities from both the
countries to enhance mutual interaction for exploring new avenues of
mutual businesses and investment to increase the bilateral trade between
both sides.

The Ambassador said that Chief Minister, Gilgit Baltistan Khalid
Khurshid is also ready to enhance cooperation in different potential
sectors for trade and investment.

He was of the view that Italy can extend its cooperation to equip and
train the local youth with modern skills and technology to enhance their
contribution in the local economy.

Andreas Ferrarese said that “We are living in the era of economic
diplomacy and economic trade relations are the assurance for peace,
harmony and stability between the countries.”

He said that both sides want to achieve their economic and trade
integration through the cooperation and exchange of culture and art to
cement bilateral relations.

The Ambassador said that green economy, transfer of technology for
industrial sector including livestock and agro industry, education and
health are major areas of focus to extend the bilateral cooperation with
Pakistan.

The ambassador said that through the green economy, Italy wanted to
cooperate with Pakistan for environment protection, circular
economy,resource saving and management, ecosystem protection and
recovery,water conservation and natural disaster prevention.

He said that in coming November,”We would initiate the upcoming derives
of the green economy in Karachi, where experts, business including
people from all walks of life to share their view applicable model for
the green economy and its due role in the country’s economy.

While meeting Chairman FPCCI, Capital Office Quran Ali said that local
business is committed to connect with potential economies like Italy and
other European Union (EU) countries.

He proposed the simplification of the Visa process for the business
community and exchange of business delegation to further enhance the
trade linkages between both sides. DNA

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