Pakistan to receive trade waiver from the European Union says Philippe Thiebaud

Pakistan to receive trade waiver from the European Union  says 
Philippe Thiebaud

Friday, January 27, 2012: European Union is considering a trade grant to Pakistan for certain products. According to ambassador of France, Philippe Thiebaud, Pakistan will get a special duty waiver for export of certain commodities.
This decision will help the country to get market access to certain European states.

The Karachi Council on Foreign Relations organized an event at the Defence Authority Club, where Thiebaud divulged EU interest to help in the development of Pakistan’s economy.

The French ambassador said, “We expect the waiver to be approved by March 1 and this is part of our commitment to help develop Pakistan’s economy.”

Thiebaud also shed some light on the issues surrounding Pak-Iran gas pipeline. The ambassador believes that sanctions against Iran may get in the way the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project and that France is ready to help the country
overcome shortage of Oil and Gas in the country.

“We are eager to find a solution to the project and France can also try and help in supplying oil and gas to Pakistan,” said Thiebaud. The French ambassador also said that the Pak-Iran Gas pipeline should be put on a hold until
certain reservations are sorted out.

Thiebaud’s speech stirred the audience and a small debate aroused. A diplomat sitting in the audience argued that Pakistan should go forward with the project as Iran has already held its end of the bargain by completing its part
of the pipeline. Another one from the audience pointed out that Pakistan did not need to build anything because of the presence of Sui pipeline network.

A person in the audience, blamed EU of paying lip service only and not meeting their commitments which they have made to Pakistan in the past.

French Ambassador gave a solid reply to this and said, “This is not EU’s fault. I am not here to drop names, but others have stood in the way of granting trade benefits in the World Trade Organisation.”

Thiebaud also clarified that France keeps its promised and pointed out to certain projects already running in the country with collaboration of France.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=10806

Posted by Wajahat Javed on Jan 28 2012. Filed under Business, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry