KARACHI, Sept 18: Pakistan is trying to diversify its sources of investment, technology transfer, trade and business relationships with different countries.

"Pakistan attaches importance to the growing economic and trade ties with France, which is a major player on the global scene," says State Bank Governor Dr Ishrat Hussain while speaking on the occasion of the signing of a partnership agreement between the Pakistan France Business Alliance (PFBA) and the French ministry of economy, finance and industry (MINEFI).

The accord was inked here on Friday night by Amin A. Lakhani, President of the PFBA, and Jean-Philippe Quercy, Economic and Commercial Counsellor, Embassy of France, on behalf on the MINEFI.

Dr Ishrat termed the signing of the agreement a very significant occasion and said: "We attach a lot of importance to the growing relationship of economic and trade between France and Pakistan."

"I do realize that we have had some setbacks, some reversals for the reasons beyond our control during the past few years, but I think we have to catch up with the fast moving world of today where France is a major player on the global scene," he added.

The SBP governor said France had been traditionally an excellent and a reliable partner of Pakistan in many fields. Dr Ishrat believes that there are sound reasons for both the countries to engage in this partnership.

He said Pakistan was trying to diversify its sources of investment, technology transfer, trade and business relationships with a variety of countries of importance. "That is in our long-term interest. France is a very valuable partner."

The SBP chief said Pakistan had ambitions and plans to accelerate growth by six to eight per cent over the next 10 years and this means that "we would be doubling our per capita income during that period of time."-APP