The German government has evinced keen interest to investment in the Balochistan Gold and Copper Project. Talking to reporters here on Thursday, German Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Cyrill Nunn, during his maiden visit to Quetta, said “Being the trading nation, we intended to invest in the Balochistan Gold and Copper project.”
“I met with Governor Balochistan Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi, Minister Mines and Minerals Mir Abdul Rehman Mengal and other officials of the province to learn the rules, terms and condition, expectations and relevant laws before we make sizable investment in the region,” German Envoy noted.
Terming subject of protection to the foreign entrepreneurs in Balochistan an important issue, he opined maintaining law and order situation and provision of security to any international companies intending to invest in Balochistan would definitely be very basic questions and matter of concern. He also referred to the bilateral trade between Pakistan and Germany as saying volume of trade between Germany and Pakistan stood 2.3 billion dollars in 2012, which was 10 percent more than the year 2011.
Nunn stressed that two countries were in closed co-ordination and working on lines to increase the current volume of trade besides enhancing bilateral co-operation in various fields to manifolds. He said vast prospects of investment existed in various sectors in Balochistan, therefore, German and other international investors should benefit from these opportunities.
Envoy termed the Germany-funded MERK pharmaceutical company as successful story in Balochistan and emphasised that Germany had very impressive experience with its pharmaceutical company working in Balochistan, however he asked the relevant authorities to provide favourable environment so that it could continue to work in future smoothly.
“Health and education were the prime areas where Germany was supporting the provincial government and private institutes mainly engaged to serve the masses,” he added. Balochistan University of Information Technology Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS) and Children Hospital Quetta (CHQ) were providing remarkable services to the people of the province; he said and urged the authorities responsible for paying their share to run CHQ decently.
Lauding the BUITEMS role in imparting quality education to the youth of the province, Nunn reiterated all-out support of the German government to the varsity and its students. He said that co-operation between Germany and Pakistan in various sectors would be enhanced which would further strengthen the friendly ties between both the countries.
