LAHORE, Nov 11: French Ambassador Daniel Jouanneau says his country is ready to extend cooperation to Pakistan in overcoming its energy shortage by building windmills and initiating solar energy projects.

Speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday, he said Pakistan could overcome its energy shortage by building windmills with the cooperation of France as it has a lot of windy areas.

He said not only France but the entire world was interested in having a stable Pakistan. He said France would take every possible step to help Pakistan in coping with all challenges it was facing.

“We cannot have more active presence in Asia if we bypass Pakistan because it is a hub between Central Asia and South Asia.”

He said French multinationals had maintained a visible presence in Pakistan in various sectors like pharmaceutical and chemicals, telecommunication equipment; oil marketing, textiles and food processing. There were several French companies operating in Pakistan. Some of them include Total in oil marketing, Alcatel Pakistan in communications, Aventis Pharma & Rhone Paulene Rorer in pharmaceuticals & Rhodia Pakistan in manufacturing, Continental Biscuits in food. These were all success stories.

He said France had also significantly contributed to the building up of defence capability of Pakistan’s Air Force and Navy by supplying air defence system and fleets of Mirages and transferring technology for building up of submarines. This spoke of remarkable relations between the two countries.

The ambassador also invited Pakistani businessmen to invest in France as investment there meant duty-free export access to 26 members of the European Union.

He, however, stressed the need for improving the image of Pakistan that had been tarnished in the eyes of world community owing to multiple reasons.

LCCI acting president Mian Muzaffar Ali said it was necessary that both the countries had access to each other’s markets. Major areas where France and Pakistan could work together include telecommunication, automobiles, shipbuilding and automotive parts, defence equipment, oil & gas exploration, infrastructure, textiles, garments, leather products, electrical & electronics appliances, fruits & vegetables, livestock & dairy, fisheries, horticulture and storage facilities for agro-products.

He said a brief analysis of bilateral trade indicated that the total trade between France and Pakistan had averaged about $471 million over the last few years. Exports from Pakistan to France averaged around $299 million and imports were $172 million during this period.

Pakistan’s exports to France during that period had been showing an increasing trend. Major items of Pakistan’s exports to France included rice, fish, cotton yarn, fabrics, readymade garments, towels, synthetic textiles, carpets & rugs, leather & leather products, footwear and sports goods.

LCCI Vice-President Shafqat Saeed Piracha said Pakistan’s investment policy offered very attractive terms for foreign direct investment. Hundred per cent foreign equity had been allowed and no government sanction was required. Remittance of capital, profits, dividends, royalty had been allowed.