SYDNEY: This year witnessed further boost in the Australia-Pakistan bilateral trade and education relationship; with both the countries enjoying continued increase in gross domestic product (GDP) .
In Australia’s case this represented our 26th consecutive year of economic growth, said Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Leonie Muldoon while speaking at the annual dinner of Pakistan Australia Business Forum, here.
She elaborated that the bilateral trade enjoyed its fourth successive year of growth and we saw exports from Australia to Pakistan grow to almost Australian dollars 1,700 million in two way goods and services trade that is a milestone in maturing economic partnership between the two countries and pointed out.
She said Australia- Pakistan Joint Trade Committee meeting to be held soon that would be a positive step at an official level in strengthening the mutual understanding. At the meeting, we would look at many aspects of the bi-lateral relationship and some next step opportunities for both the countries.
“ I feel there are opportunities specifically in education, food, beverage and franchising agri-business and agri-science (dairy, feedlot and commodities) ,” she said.
Australian envoy noted that both the countries moving closer in people-to-people relations. Last year, 15,800 Pakistani students chose to study in Australia which was one of top three destination choices for Pakistani under-graduate and post-graduate students.
In 2017, Australian companies demonstrated strong commitment to adding value in Pakistan through downstream dairy processing and product development for export, leveraging strength of Australia as the world’s third largest dairy exporter to support Pakistan build its dairy production through dairy cattle exports, and consulting around better feed, farm management practices, fodder and proven quality genetics.
During the current year, cotton season in Pakistan was enhanced by an Australian training initiative designed over the time to support up-skilling 225,000 Pakistani cotton farmers for making domestic production more competitive in the European markets.
In 2017, Australia began to extend the work already engaged in, with Pakistan in dairy and cotton to feedlots, animal fattening (goat, sheep and beef) and meat supply chain services.
Use of modern technology and expertise from Australia was assisting Pakistan to increase the volume and value of meat production for local and export demand across designing, breeding, feeding, traceability, finishing and processing of meat. Next year, 10 Pakistan feedlot farmers visiting Australia for training.
Pakistan’s focus on energy, including renewables and mining as priority sectors opened up additional areas for collaboration. Pakistan’s focus on developing more sophisticated mining operations through projects such as Thar coal, and the development of hydropower Infrastructure might invite Australia’s decades of experience and modern technology.
She advised that Pakistan need to make a quantum leap forward in productivity and safety standards. The Australian Trade and Investment Commission was keen to work with Pakistani firms to grow your businesses with Australia.
The High Commissioner said that in 2018, more positive steps would be taken to support the two business communities getting to know each other better and continuing to work to explore sectors where Australia and Pakistan could do more together commercially.
Chairman, Pakistan Australia Business Forum, Pervez Haroon Madraswala highlighted the forum’s activities in last seven years of its revival for promoting bilateral trade.
He urged Pakistani businessmen to visit Australia to explore trade opportunities there. The Australian members of PABF were keen to invest in Pakistan and they would bring latest technology.
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