‘Australia interested in Pakistan’s great potential’

ISLAMABAD: Australian Ambassador to Pakistan Peter Heyward has said his country was interested in Pakistan’s matchless potential in human and natural resource.

“We can jointly exploit the gift of Thar Coal,” Peter Heyward said while talking to a delegation of the Islamabad Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI), said a press statement issued here on Wednesday. The delegation was led by its founder President Samina Fazil.

Ambassador Peter Heyward said major Australian oil and gas companies were keenly watching the developments in Pakistan which would help to plan stepping up of this promising market.

President IWCCI Farida Rashid, Adviser IWCCI Malik Sohail, Naima Ansari and others were also present on the occasion.

Peter Heyward said Australia can get access to the energy-rich central Asia and Gulf states by using Pakistan as an economic bridge. “We can strengthen bonds in education and agriculture sectors”, he noted.

Pakistan fulfils every criterion to become a developed nation soon, he said adding that no country can afford not to put women to production and full participation in the economy.

Underlining the importance of linkages, Heyward said Pakistani and Australian businesswomen associations would be linked while his country will offer training in education, networking, information sharing and exchange opportunities to Pakistani women.

Wife of the Ambassador, Suzzane Heyward, said she would try her best to infuse confidence in business women by encouragement and capacity-building measures.

She offered her residence for exhibitions where wives of all ambassadors would be invited and it would help the local women entrepreneurs find business and intercommunication opportunities.

Speaking on the occasion, Samina Fazil said women in Pakistan are a strong part of the society offering variety of services.

Samina also highlighted the importance of liberal and deregulated trade regime of Pakistan which offered enormous opportunities for foreign investors.

President IWCCI Farida Rashid said economies of Pakistan and Australia were compatible, which is a prerequisite for enhanced bilateral cooperation.

“We have a great consumer market and a competent workforce, which is the fourth largest in the world,” Farida informed.

Adviser IWCCI Malik Sohail, who is also Chairman Media FPCCI, delivered a goodwill message of national business leaders Tariq Sayeed, Iftikhar Ali Malik and Haji Ghulam Kadir Sherani to the ambassador and his wife.

The FPCCI is the apex trade body of Pakistan and all the associations as well as business councils come under its umbrella, he said. International investors are making profits despite some challenges, he said.

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