Pakistan and Senegal have agreed to boost bilateral relations in trade and defence sectors as Islamabad is prepared to supply defence equipment to the African Muslim country which are manufactured in the country. Senegal is a strong Muslim country of Africa that had earlier served as the chairman of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The two sides also discussed cooperation in the defence sector and defence procurement.
Both sides agreed to enhance bilateral trade from its current volume of $30.469 million a year to its true potential. Presently Pakistan’s annual exports to Senegal amount to $29.433 million while imports are at $1.06 million.
Pakistan emphasized on enhancing the bilateral trade from its current volume of $30.469 million a year to its real potential. Pakistan is considering opening a Pakistani bank in Senegal which would facilitate trade and investment between the two countries. Pakistan can extend technical support to Senegal for establishment of sugar and cement plants and could also help in promoting its agriculture sector.
During recent visit of Senegalese President Macky Sall to Pakistan, the host country also offered to cooperate in the fields of intelligence sharing, control of human and drug trafficking and capacity building in counter terrorism for Senegal.
A huge high powered delegation of Senegal comprising Mansour Elimane KANE, Minister for Infrastructure, Oumar Demba BA, and Diplomatic Adviser to the President, Mrs Gnounka DIOUF, and Minister Counselor to the Presidency, Hamidou Samba KASSE, Minister Counselor for Communications and others also accompanied the President Macky Sall to his visit to Pakistan, the lone Muslim nuclear power in the world.
Senegalese delegation also visited Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) along with Federal Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain and Chairman POF told the delegation that POF was the premier defence organization of the country which was not only meeting defence requirement of the Armed Forces of Pakistan but also exporting its products to more than 40 countries around the globe. He further remarked that POF was ready to meet the requirement of all types of conventional arms& ammunition of Senegal.
Both sides agreed to enhance bilateral trade from current volume of $30.469 million a year to true potential. Presently Pakistan’s annual exports to Senegal amount to $29.433 million while imports are at $1.06 million.
Syed Naseem Raza Executive Director Wah Nobel Group of Companies gave a detailed briefing to the delegation and said that that POF was a gigantic defence production complex with 14 independent production units, 11 subsidiaries and total work force is more than 26 thousand. POFs industrial base is strong enough to undertake development and production of all most all types of conventional arms and ammunition.
The delegation visited POF Product Display Lounges, later they were taken to some production units where they witnessed the manufacturing process of arms and ammunition. The delegation showed keen interest in the manufacturing process of arms and ammunition and lauded the high quality of POF products.
President Macky Sall and Nawaz Sharif also held productive interactions at the United Nations General Assembly session in 2015 in New York and later in Saudi Arabia and both agreed to develop greater cooperation in diverse fields.
Earlier in his one on one meeting with host premier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called for boosting the bilateral trade with Senegal by enhanced collaboration in textiles, agricultural machinery and pharmaceutical sectors. Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif urged Senegal to benefit from Pakistan’s products including leather and light engineering goods, and said a composite trade and investment delegation from Pakistan led by minister of commerce could visit Senegal in this regard.
Nawaz Sharif congratulated the Senegalese president on the election of his country as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the term 2016-17 and expressed the confidence that Senegal would play a pro-active role in protecting and promoting the interests of Islamic countries. He lauded President Macky Sall in ensuring democracy in his country following the general election of 2012 and mentioned his positive role in resolving the regional disputes.
Melange Report