France to help Pak students in higher education
By Saad Saud

ISLAMABAD—Regis de Belenet Ambassador of France toPakistan visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and called on Abdul Rauf President ICCI. On his visit while addressing to the representatives of business community of Islamabad he said that France did a lot for the earthquake victims and that French contributions on this count before the donors' conference was to the tune of 30 million dollars. He said that Pakistan is playing key role in the war against terrorism and is a strategic partner of France in this cause but still there is need to improve the country's image on the mass level. He further said that various French companies are investing in Pakistan in many sectors including agri food, defence, oil & gas, telecommunication, hotel, construction, banking, insurance, chemical engineering, pharmaceutical and electronics. France is sixth great economic power of the world and the French companies running in Pakistan are satisfied from the investment environment in Pakistan and many other are pla ing to invest under which a five star hotel and ten three star hotels would be established.
He further informed that with close coordination of HEC 200 Pakistani students will be admitted in French institutes for Higher Education. To establish universities in various regions of Pakistan, Pakistan French University Consortium is constituted.
Abdul Rauf President ICCI said that the policies of present government has put Pakistan on the way of progress and turned it into investment friendly and an attractive country for foreign investors. Now it is the right time for the French investors to avail the business opportunities in Pakistan, he invited. In the last year Pakistan export volume was 17.9 billion dollar and for the next year exports of 18.6 billion dollar is targeted. Regarding trade between Pakistan and France he informed that in the last year Pak-French trade was 660 million dollar which should be improved.
In the last year Pakistan received foreign investment worth of 3.5 billion dollar which is a proof of trust of investors on country's economic situation.