KARACHI, April 18: Switzerland is looking for the possibilities of expanding operations and investment of Swiss companies in Pakistan to open new job avenues and enhance exports from Pakistan, Consul General of Switzerland Julius F. Anderegg informed the FPCCI leaders at Federation House here on Thursday.

He said that foreigners and even Swiss citizens feel very much comfortable in Pakistan and it was only the media which had projected negative image of law and order situation in Pakistan. He said that his country was interested in increasing two-way trade.

Earlier in a visit to Site Association of Trade and Industry, he emphatically asserted that Switzerland was bullish on Pakistan because of the good people, competent and skilled workforce and excellent business opportunities.

Anderegg further added that presently 44 per cent of all Swiss exports to Pakistan consist of machinery and pharmaceuticals. He said that 70 per cent of all Swiss imports from Pakistan are textiles and farm products.

He further mentioned that Swiss companies like Nestle, Clariant, Roche, Novartis, SGS, Sikba, etc., were very happy with their presence here. He specifically emphasized that Swiss airlines was the only Western airline operating directly to Pakistan and this was the proof that Switzerland considered Pakistan as an important and vital trading partner.

The consul general said Pakistan needed to improve its image because there was a ridiculous imbalance between the picture and the reality.

In response to a suggestion, he said that he advocated immediate start of visits by Swiss and European businessmen to Pakistan. He also revealed that his Consulate was very pragmatic in deciding genuine visa cases and that it had gone out of its way to accommodate genuine businessmen.