RAWALPINDI, July 4: French Ambassador Philippe Thiebaud on Wednesday said that France wanted to boost economic ties with Pakistan and in this regard looked forward to enhancing bilateral trade.

“Pakistan has vast potential for investment and 180 French companies are already working in the country. France is included in the top five biggest trade partners of Pakistan,” he said while on a visit to the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI).

French economic attaché Simon De Latour, RCCI president Jawed Akhtar Bhatti, RCCI senior VP Ch. Iqbal Ahmed, Group Leader Najamul Haq Malik, members’ executive committee and businessmen of the city were also present on the occasion.

The French envoy said that trade volume between the two countries was 1 billion euros and Pakistan’s exports were higher as compared with its imports. “Pakistan is getting around $250 million surplus in this regard,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Bhatti said that the RCCI believed in promoting trade activities among all the countries across the globe.

He was of the view that continuous interaction between the business communities of the two countries would help a lot to further increase in trade volume.