Sultan
August 27th, 2004, 05:00 AM
Pak-Kuwait MoUs to promote economic ties
ISLAMABAD(APP) - Pakistan and Kuwait Thursday inked two Memorandum of Understandings for enhanced bilateral political consultations and to cooperate in curbing narcotics trafficking.
The MoUs were preceded the signing of a framework economic agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), paving way for a dialogue partnership with the council later this year.
Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Dr.Mohammad Sabah Al-Saleem Al-Sabah and Federal Minister and ambassador-at-large Khurshid M Kasuri at a press talk termed the talks “cordial and good” and reflective of sentiments of the people of Pakistan and Kuwait.
He expressed gratitude to Kuwait over enhancing the number of visas for Pakistanis and for the joint ventures in the country. He said the Pakistan-Kuwait Joint Investment Company has never made a loss and called for broader initiative in investment.
Khurshid Kasuri said the talks were comprehensive, covering entire gamut of relations including the situation in Iraq, Afghanistan, Middle East, the Composite Dialogue process between Pakistan and India and the fight against terrorism.
He said there was convergence of points of views by both the sides on important regional and international issues as.
He said Kuwait is the current Chairman of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and its strategic location in the region has enhanced its importance manifold particularly in the current world scenario.
He said the signing of the framework agreement will bring Pakistan and the GCC more closer and enhance exchange of information on foreign trade, encourage business communications and impart training and exchange of technology transfer..
He said the agreement will promote economic cooperation, exchange of information and encourage necessary technical economic cooperation with the important regional grouping.
The Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Dr.Mohammad Sabah Al-Saleem Al-Sabah said the signing of framework agreement will lead towards the establishment of a free trade area. He said Pakistan has a productive and genius manpower and there was a hospitable environment for investment.
He said, Pak-Kuwait relations have always been good and thanked Pakistan for its principled stand during Kuwait’s invasion.
Kuwait, he said, a appreciates the role of expatriate Pakistanis and described them as ingenious. He said the two sides discussed reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan and how to strengthen their economic cooperation.
To a question he said there were investment opportunities in Pakistan and said his country was keen to invest in promising projects. “Our investment in Pakistan has been profitable,” he added.
He said with more liberalisation, more investment will flow in.
When asked if he discussed the issue of Kashmir with the Indian leaders, he said, “Kuwait believed in the strict abidance of the Security Council resolutions.” He said Kuwait too got its liberation and international legitimacy through the Security Council resolutions.
To a question if Pakistan should send its troops to Iraq, he said, it was up to the governments of Pakistan and Iraq to decide and he would not like to interfere in their internal matter.
About the bombings of religious places in Iraq, Khurshid Kasuri said President General Pervez Musharraf had talked to the Centcom Chief General Abizaid and informed him about the sentiments of the Muslims.
When asked that the GCC had signed a similar agreement with Pakistan’s nuclear rival India, he said, Kuwait’s relations with the two countries transcend the fact that the two countries have nuclear weapons.
He said Kuwait was one of the first countries when its Amir visited Pakistan in 1947 to congratulate Quaid-e-Azam on the birth of a new Muslim nation.
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/aug-2004/27/bnews1.php
ISLAMABAD(APP) - Pakistan and Kuwait Thursday inked two Memorandum of Understandings for enhanced bilateral political consultations and to cooperate in curbing narcotics trafficking.
The MoUs were preceded the signing of a framework economic agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), paving way for a dialogue partnership with the council later this year.
Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Dr.Mohammad Sabah Al-Saleem Al-Sabah and Federal Minister and ambassador-at-large Khurshid M Kasuri at a press talk termed the talks “cordial and good” and reflective of sentiments of the people of Pakistan and Kuwait.
He expressed gratitude to Kuwait over enhancing the number of visas for Pakistanis and for the joint ventures in the country. He said the Pakistan-Kuwait Joint Investment Company has never made a loss and called for broader initiative in investment.
Khurshid Kasuri said the talks were comprehensive, covering entire gamut of relations including the situation in Iraq, Afghanistan, Middle East, the Composite Dialogue process between Pakistan and India and the fight against terrorism.
He said there was convergence of points of views by both the sides on important regional and international issues as.
He said Kuwait is the current Chairman of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and its strategic location in the region has enhanced its importance manifold particularly in the current world scenario.
He said the signing of the framework agreement will bring Pakistan and the GCC more closer and enhance exchange of information on foreign trade, encourage business communications and impart training and exchange of technology transfer..
He said the agreement will promote economic cooperation, exchange of information and encourage necessary technical economic cooperation with the important regional grouping.
The Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Dr.Mohammad Sabah Al-Saleem Al-Sabah said the signing of framework agreement will lead towards the establishment of a free trade area. He said Pakistan has a productive and genius manpower and there was a hospitable environment for investment.
He said, Pak-Kuwait relations have always been good and thanked Pakistan for its principled stand during Kuwait’s invasion.
Kuwait, he said, a appreciates the role of expatriate Pakistanis and described them as ingenious. He said the two sides discussed reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan and how to strengthen their economic cooperation.
To a question he said there were investment opportunities in Pakistan and said his country was keen to invest in promising projects. “Our investment in Pakistan has been profitable,” he added.
He said with more liberalisation, more investment will flow in.
When asked if he discussed the issue of Kashmir with the Indian leaders, he said, “Kuwait believed in the strict abidance of the Security Council resolutions.” He said Kuwait too got its liberation and international legitimacy through the Security Council resolutions.
To a question if Pakistan should send its troops to Iraq, he said, it was up to the governments of Pakistan and Iraq to decide and he would not like to interfere in their internal matter.
About the bombings of religious places in Iraq, Khurshid Kasuri said President General Pervez Musharraf had talked to the Centcom Chief General Abizaid and informed him about the sentiments of the Muslims.
When asked that the GCC had signed a similar agreement with Pakistan’s nuclear rival India, he said, Kuwait’s relations with the two countries transcend the fact that the two countries have nuclear weapons.
He said Kuwait was one of the first countries when its Amir visited Pakistan in 1947 to congratulate Quaid-e-Azam on the birth of a new Muslim nation.
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/aug-2004/27/bnews1.php