President Dr Arif Alvi has emphasised the need for further strengthening cooperation between Pakistan and Italy in the areas of trade, manufacturing, and information technology. Speaking with Pakistan's designate ambassador to Italy Ali Javed at the President's House, he expressed appreciation for the concept of setting up manufacturing facilities by Pakistani diasporas in Italy's industrial-free zone for producing and exporting Pakistani goods and products to Italy and the rest of Europe.

He said that opportunities for Pakistani IT workers and other relevant disciplines to transfer their expertise to Italy over the internet need to be explored as by doing this, Pakistan will be able to keep its human resources while sharing its talents and expertise. He added that the country needs a trained labour force to boost its manufacturing, agriculture, and industrial sectors. The president advised the ambassador and all supporting personnel to concentrate on addressing the concerns and difficulties experienced by the Pakistani diasporas in Italy and providing them with the support and counselling services they require both online and in person.

Dr Arif Alvi gave the ambassador-designate advice to maintain strong relations with Pakistan's key manufacturing and industrial institutions as well as its chambers of commerce and look into the prospect of collaborative ventures with its Italian counterparts. Italian investors, according to him, should be encouraged to relocate their industrial facilities to Pakistan so they may take advantage of the country's affordable labour, accessibility to raw materials, and investment-friendly legislation.

He said, Italy is one of Pakistan's biggest trading partners in the European Union. Due to the complementary nature of the economies of the two countries, there is a significant opportunity for growing bilateral trade and investment, he noted. The current trade, which is estimated to be worth $1.3 billion, does not fully realise the potential on both sides, according to him, and efforts must be made to expand the volume.

President Alvi stressed that the wellbeing of the estimated 200,000 Pakistanis who reside in Italy and contribute to that country's socioeconomic growth should take precedence above all other considerations. In addition to engaging in conventional economic diplomacy, the ambassador-designate should seek out fresh opportunities for collaboration, particularly with start-ups, he added.

He stated that Pakistan and Italy should collaborate closely on all matters of mutual interest because both countries have similar views on a number of regional and international problems, notably revamping the UN Security Council. He expressed confidence that the ambassador-designate will endeavour to strengthen these interactions and said that the Strategic Engagement Plan agreed between the two countries in 2013 provided a great platform for moving bilateral and multilateral cooperation ahead in a comprehensive and sustainable way.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk