SIALKOT, Dec 11: France on Wednesday offered technical assistance to Sialkot business community for promoting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), besides offering some direct trade relations to the local exporters for easy access to France and EU trade and export markets.

This was stated by French Ambassador Yannick Gerard while addressing a seminar on small and medium industries held at SCCI, organized by SCCI and Pakistan France Business Alliance.

The French ambassador said in Pakistan although there had been a lot of emphasis on SMEs, due to lack of proper information, desired results and maximum financial benefits could not be achieved from the existing SMEs.

Furthermore, no significant progress could be made in setting up more SMEs.

He said SMEs played the role of an engine in economic growth of any country. Undoubtedly, setting up of the SMEs in China, Korea, Taiwan, etc., is a great success story that helped those countries substantially increase their exports with the logical end result of stability to economy.

Mr Gerard said Pakistan and France had always enjoyed extremely cordial and friendly relations. Both the countries have common perception about most of the international, political and economic issues.

France has been one of the important contributors of aid to Pakistan. Economic and commercial relations have been growing rapidly for the last few years. The balance of trade has always been in favour of France.

Talking to Dawn at SCCI, the French ambassador said there was a tremendous scope for trade growth between France and Pakistan. He said there were bright chances of setting up various joint ventures between French and Pakistani trade companies.

Mr Gerard observed that various French companies have shown keen interest in establishing various joint ventures with Sialkot-based companies in the fields of sport goods, musical instruments, surgical instruments, leather goods and information technology.

The French ambassador assured the Sialkot business community that exchange of trade delegations would be made regular, the participation in trade fairs and exhibitions in both countries, including single country exhibition, would be increased and the exchange of latest information on foreign trade regime and other publications through the respective trade offices and other relevant organizations would also be made regular for promoting and improving the trade between France and Pakistan through expanding traditional and non-traditional trade.

Hubert Colaris, head of economic department of French embassy; Jahangir Malik, honorary counsel general of France in Lahore; SCCI president Babar Iqbal; senior vice-president Mohammad Sadiq Goraya; and vice-president Mohammad Ashraf Malik were also present on the occasion.