Second meeting in Paris of the Pakistan-France Administrative Commission on Economic and Commercial matters

The second session of the Administrative Commission Pakistan-France on economic and commercial matters (COMIX ECO) was held on 16 March, 2015 at Bercy at The General Directorate of the Treasury (Dgtresor).

It materializes the commitment made after the first meeting on the 24th September, 2013, held in Islamabad, to organize this commission annually alternately in the two countries. The Pakistani delegation, headed by the Secretary of EAD (Economic Affairs Division), also included three other representatives (CEO of Alternative Development Board, Director General of the Board of Investment, Director Planning of the Ministry of Railways) and the Ambassador of Pakistan to France.

The French delegation, led by the Deputy Director at Dgtresor, comprised, besides the Ambassador of France to Pakistan and the Head of the Economic Department of the French Embassy in Islamabad, representatives of several sub-directorates of Dgtresor, AFD (French Agency for Development), France Expertise, Railways France and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development.

The two sides acknowledged the excellent bilateral relations in economic and commercial fields while recognizing that commercial exchanges and investments were far from reflecting the potential of both countries.

Having reviewed the economic situation of France and Europe on one hand and that of Pakistan on the other hand, the two delegations reviewed the commitments made at the first session of the COMIX ECO. They decided to continue to expand the fields of intervention of the technical assistance provided by France Expertise to Pakistani agencies and institutions.

The use of French financial vehicles (RPE and AFD) for the realization of new projects in Pakistan in the areas of water, sanitation, renewable energy and more widely relating to the protection of environment has been confirmed. The opening of these funds to the railway sector will be appraised by the Dgtresor given the importance of the projects that the Pakistani authorities wish to realize in this field and the interest shown by concerned French operators.

The will of both sides to strengthen economic relations between the two countries was discussed and should materialize during this year by the organization of a mission of French businessmen to Pakistan headed by MEDEF as well as a road show in France led by the Pakistan Board of Investment to attract French investors to Pakistan.

The next COMIX ECO will be held in Islamabad in 2016.