Syed Zulfiqar Gardezi, Ambassador-designate of Pakistan to Denmark on Thursday said that his key priority would be to promote Pakistan’s exports with Denmark and Denmark’s investment in Pakistan.

Gardezi expressed these views while sharing his priorities with the local business community for promoting Pakistan’s economic interests with Denmark at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI). 

He said, “Bilateral trade between Pakistan and Denmark was over US$ 200 million with trade balance in favor of Pakistan which was encouraging. However, Pakistan has good potential to further enhance its exports to Denmark.” He said he would work hard to identify new areas of mutual cooperation to further improve bilateral trade between the two countries.

He said, “Input of business community was important to explore new areas of trade promotion with foreign countries.” He identified renewable energy, dairy and cattle sectors as potential areas of cooperation between Pakistan and Denmark. He said, “Pakistan was facing non-economic factors including visa facilitation problems and travel advisories of foreign countries in improving exports and attracting foreign investment.” 

He vowed that he would pay more attention to these areas for promoting soft image of Pakistan in Denmark. He said, “ICCI should form a delegation for Denmark and assured his full cooperation to make its visit successful.”

Speaking at the occasion, Khalid Iqbal Malik, President ICCI said, “Pakistan Embassy in Denmark should step up efforts to identify new avenues of promoting Pakistan’s exports to Danish market. The Embassy should conduct market study reports and tell us which products of Pakistan have good potential in Danish market so that the private sector could take advantage of prospective business opportunities. Denmark has advanced capability in wind energy and it could help Pakistan in overcoming its energy problems by transferring wind power technology and sharing expertise.”

Khalid Malik, Senior Vice President ICCI stressed that, “Pakistani Missions should play more effective role in identifying opportunities for Pakistani products in foreign countries. Our Commercial Counselors should be given annual exports targets and their performance should be evaluated on the basis of achievements of such targets.” He assured that, “ICCI would look into the possibility of taking a delegation to Denmark.”

Zafar Bakhtawari, M. Ejaz Abbasi, Dr. Noshaba Manan, Nasira Ali, Naeem Siddiqui, Raja Abdul Majeed and others also spoke at the occasion.