ISLAMABAD: Danish ambassador Jesper Moller Sorensen has disclosed that more than five companies from Denmark postponed their scheduled visits to Pakistan due to ongoing protest demonstrations.
“These companies were keen to invest in energy, pharmaceutical and other sectors in Pakistan, but the image and impression portrayed by the media while showing mass rallies confused investors. Resultantly they had to postpone their scheduled visits,” he told Customs Today on Monday.
When asked about impacts of the ongoing military operation Zarb-e-Azb against militants in North Waziristan Agency, the ambassador observed that Danes (Danish national is called Dane) did not know anything about the military operation because business community had nothing to do with military warfare on militancy.
He told that people in his country tend to pay all types of taxes because they had confidence to get facilities against their paid money. Sorensen said that the overall trade volume between the two countries stood at 400 million dollars, which was insignificant and needed to be enhanced by focusing more on improving trade and commercial activities.
“With an objective to facilitate traders and business communities of both Pakistan and Denmark, the Trade Council has been setup in the embassy to further assist Danish companies with commercial enquiries regarding import to and export from Pakistan; local customs, duty and taxation regulations; setting up business etc,” he added.
To a question about Denmark’s assessment about investment potential in Pakistan, he said that his country viewed great potential of investment in Pakistan, especially in energy and textile sectors and a Danish trade delegation visited Pakistan here to explore opportunities for investment and trade in various sectors. The Generalised System of Preferences (GSP-Plus) status given to Pakistan by the European Union has also made it more attractive for sourcing companies, especially in the textile sector.
He said that Danish companies could extend assistance to Pakistan in water waste management and both the Danish and Pakistani businessmen could undertake joint ventures in other important sectors of the economy including healthcare, agriculture and dairy sector, which offered immense opportunities.
It is pertinent to mention here that famous Danish companies including A.P. Moller/Maresk, Novo Nordisk, and Ciklum are already doing very good business in Pakistan.
