ISLAMABAD: Ports and Shipping Minister Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo has invited Dutch maritime companies to invest in Pakistani maritime industry and take benefits from Pakistani maritime infrastructure.
He also called for expanding cooperation between Pakistan and the Netherlands, particularly in port and shipping sector. Maritime technology in the Netherlands is highly developed. A powerful maritime nation from old days with strong trading links around the world, the Netherlands also has the largest inland fleet in Europe and one of the strongest maritime clusters in the world.
In a meeting with Dutch ambassador Ardi Stoios-Braken, Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo said that there was immense potential of trade exists between Pakistan and Netherlands. There is a need to expand cooperation between ports and shipping of both countries. Both Bizenjo and Ardi discussed bilateral relations besides matters of mutual interest.
The ambassador Ardi Stoios-braken appreciated the development of Gwadar Port and said her country would extend all possible cooperation for capacity building of different ports in Pakistan. While appreciating the infrastructure development in Gawader Port, the Ambassador said that the investment in infrastructure and development on various ports of Pakistan is of great importance.
She further said that the Netherlands wanted to increase its footprints in Pakistan through collaboration and partnership in several sectors epically in the development and expansion of infrastructures at various ports of Pakistan.
She highlighted that four hundred years ago, Dutch naval entrepreneurs operated the world’s largest fleet and established the world’s first multinational company. Today, Holland is once again a leading maritime nation, operating Europe’s largest inland shipping fleet and with world-leading manufacturers of high-end yachts and special vessels specials. The Port of Rotterdam is Europe’s largest port by far and Amsterdam is Europe’s fourth-largest.
She informed the minister that the Dutch maritime cluster comprises 11 different, yet complementary industries that operate within a 100-kilometre radius. This encourages close co-operation on innovation and production, allowing industries to build on each other’s strengths.
She said that the Netherlands also distinguished itself with a globally competitive group of suppliers to the offshore (maritime) industry and specialized R&D institutes. Overall, the Dutch maritime cluster focuses on high-end, added-value markets that require high levels of expertise, exceptional craftsmanship and research-based innovation.
