Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has extended an invitation to Swiss companies to invest in Pakistan’s renewable energy and IT sectors during a meeting with a delegation led by Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis in Islamabad. The discussions focused on exploring opportunities for collaboration in various fields.
Both sides agreed to utilize government-to-government and business-to-business channels to foster partnerships in tourism and the development of related infrastructure. Additionally, a meeting will be scheduled soon to further define the modes of cooperation in these areas.
The discussions also highlighted the significance of strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in climate change, trade and investment, development cooperation, higher education, and vocational training between Pakistan and Bern.
Minister for Climate Change, Sherry Rehman, presented the living Indus initiative and Delta blue carbon project, which aim to restore over three hundred thousand hectares of mangrove wetlands, leading to a reduction of 147 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions and generating revenues of 250 million dollars.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed a warm welcome to Foreign Minister Cassis and the accompanying delegation, reiterating the importance of Pakistan’s relations with Switzerland based on shared values of democracy and the rule of law. He also expressed gratitude to the Swiss Government for their support in the aftermath of last year’s devastating floods.
It is noteworthy that this bilateral visit marks the first visit of a Swiss Foreign Minister to Pakistan accompanied by members of Parliament in the past seventeen years.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif shared on Twitter that he had a productive discussion with Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis on expanding cooperation in trade and investment, climate change, disaster management, risk reduction, early warning systems, higher education, and the development of tourism infrastructure. He also expressed appreciation for Switzerland’s advocacy for climate-responsible sustainable development.
The discussions between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis highlight the potential for collaboration between Pakistan and Switzerland in various sectors. The invitation to Swiss companies to invest in Pakistan’s renewable energy and IT sectors demonstrates the commitment to fostering economic growth and partnerships between the two countries.
