Pakistani businessmen can export Polish products to Afghanistan, Central Asian states

Pakistani businessmen can export Polish products to Afghanistan, Central Asian states
By Correspondent

(Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) — – Poland will have around 1600 troops in Afghanistan by the mid of this year in view of the importance of Afghanistan for regional security and to support the Afghan National Army and provide security to working on reconstruction projects. This was stated by Ireneusz Makles, the Consul General of Poland in Karachi while delivering a lecture to the senior faculty of the University of Balochistan here Thursday.

He said this is part of the Polands active participation in stabilization and peace missions to help eliminate at an early stage the security threats on a global scale. Polish troops in the operations of NATO in Afghanistan are also boosting Afghanistans police and legal systems so that they will be in a position to maintain stability themselves and supporting the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration into society of insurgents and Taliban fighters. Our goal is clear i.e. to support the elected Afghan government in rebuilding the shattered country and bring peace and prosperity to its citizens after decades of war, he added.

Vice Chancellor Agha Ahmed Gul and Pro Vice Chancellor Dr. S. A. Kiyani, Deans of different faculties and Heads of all teaching departments were also present on the occasion. Makles said that Poland plans to withdraw its remaining 900 soldiers from Iraq by the end of this year and the decision has been accepted by the Pentagon. However, he said that Poland clearly wants to compensate for this draw down by bolstering its engagement in Afghanistan. Currently there are 1200 Polish troops in Afghanistan and their number would soon rise to 1600, he added.

About Iran nuclear crisis, he told that Poland is a part of the international coalition that came together to address concerns about Irans nuclear programme and it recognizes the importance of the deployment of soft power to address these concerns. We support a balanced package of further sanctions and incentives including reaffirming Iran are right to nuclear energy for peaceful use in conformity with the Non Proliferation Treaty and improving Irans access to the international economy.

Poland had no objection to the use of nuclear technology by any nation if they do it with the proper safeguards and under IAEA supervision and we support the efforts to settle the crisis connected with Irans nuclear programme, he opined and mentioned that in the line with the foreign policy, Polish politicians, the President and the Government of the Republic of Poland have expressed on many occasions their concern over the developments in Iran and support the relevant actions being taken by the European Union.

About Police-Pak ties, Mr. Ireneusz Makles said that Pakistan is a very important partner for Poland in South East Asia as both the countries have deep-rooted relations. Poland is in favour of upgrading cooperation and the partnership between the European Union and Pakistan and it is welcome news that high-level Economic and Trade Dialog would be launched this year.

He threw light on the historical background of the Polish-Pak relations that he said dates back to 1948 when the first official Polish delegation paid a visit to Pakistan and signed the first trade agreement. Despite lack of diplomatic relations, the first Polish trade mission was established in Karachi a year later that become the Polish Embassy and every since very friendly relations have existed and in 1969 the Pakistan Embassy was set up in Warsaw.

He described the parliamentary elections on 18th February this year as free, fair and in safe environment paying tributes to the Pakistanis terming them great patriots and lovers of their Fatherland. He hoped that the elected representatives would work for political stability, promotion of democracy and the development of the country as politically stable elected government will boost trade activities in the country attracting the foreign investment in different sectors.

Referring to the strategic importance of Pakistan, the Polish Consul General said that Pakistan is becoming a leading, regional hub with a specific role as a trade and energy corridor for China and Central Asian countries. Through the strategically located Gwadar Port, Pakistani businessmen can export Polish products to Afghanistan, Central Asian states like Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the eastern region of Iran, he said adding that most of goods from these countries could be cheaper if exported by sea to Poland and other East and Central European and Baltic countries.

Thanks to Gwadar Port, there will be tremendous increase in trade which will benefit all states, he remarked. Poland wishes to expand ties with Pakistan in trade and economy, to cooperate in the fields of gas and oil, energy, infrastructure, maritime, engineering and agro-food sectors as well as development of small and medium enterprises, he mentioned and said that Poland can supply electric equipment including diesel generators, railway equipment, agriculture machinery and spare parts, heavy vehicles and marine and diesel engines.

About the trade between the two countries, he informed that the trade figures for the last three year between Poland and Pakistan show an upward trend. In 2006, the turnover in trade was 111 million dollars.

Poland exported goods for 32.2 million dollars and Pakistan for $78.8 million and the balance of trade is in favour of Pakistan for $46.6 million. Similarly, he said, in 2007 turnover in trade was $127.5 million as Poland exported goods for $24.3 million and Pakistan for $103.2 million bringing the balance of trade again in favour of Pakistan for 78.9 million US$. In January 2008, the turnover in trade was $13.70 million including Poland exported goods worth $2.5 million and Pakistan goods worth $11.2 million thus bringing the balance of trade once again in favour of Pakistan for $ 8.7 million.

The biggest sectors in Pakistan exports were textiles, chemical fibre, leather, sports, vegetable products, plastics, toys, marble, onyx, medical and veterinary instruments while Poland exported to Pakistan machines, chemicals, cast iron and steel, wood pulp and cardboard, fertilizer, newsprint, machinery engines, rolling bearings, oil seeds and milk powder.

Ireneusz Makles further said that six Polish trade delegations will visit Pakistan in 2008 including Mission of Polish Chamber of Commerce while Poland will support Pakistan in next months on issue of market access to European Union as it wants cordial relations with new government in Pakistan. At the conclusion, he assured that Poland will materialize the idea of the Vice Chancellor Agha Ahmed Gul of signing agreement between Balochistan University with Polish University. Such agreement will serve very well for science, education of friendly people of Balochistan and Pakistan and Poland, he hoped.

Earlier Vice Chancellor introduced His Excellency to the faculty members and expressed the hope that his visit to University of Balochistan Quetta would be fruitful as he invited Polish students to study in UoB to have first-hand information and access to the rich cultural heritage of Balochistan and share their cultural heritage with those of Balochistan University.

A question-answer session was also held on the occasion in which the Polish envoy assured that he would convey higher authorities of his government to convince European Union to simplify and ease the procedures of some banned chemical export in limited quantity to the University of Balochistan purely for scientific research purposes. He also agreed with the point of a UoB Professor for exchange of student teachers delegations for clarifying the perception about West and Islam through lectures, interaction and interviews on media in Poland.

Mr. Ireneusz Makles said that the main purpose of his visit was to develop the economic relations with Pakistan and particularly Balochistan and assured to resolve the issue of ban on some items such as seafood, fruits and vegetable from Balochistan putting the item in the agenda of trade delegations visits for removal of this obstacle. The Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. SA Kiyani on behalf of the University of Balochistan and the faculty thanked the Polish Consul General for delivering such an informative lecture.