MULTAN, Sept 7th: Netherlands' Policy officer on economic affairs Umair Ahmed called on President of Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi in his office and presented compliments and gratitude to him for his services rendered for the cause of business community here today.He said that the Netherlands and Pakistan are major trading partners. The Netherlands is Pakistan’s ninth largest export destination, while the EU is its fourth largest. The Netherlands primarily imports textiles, woven fabrics, linen and, increasingly, agricultural products from Pakistan. The main Dutch exports to Pakistan are oil and oil products, industrial and agricultural machinery, and chemicals. The Netherlands is the fourth largest investor in Pakistan,he added. He exchanged views regarding increasing the cooperation in bilateral trade, agriculture, textiles and poultry. Umair disclosed that Neitherland was introducing a sponsored programme in Pakistan under which ten experts in modern technology would arrive in Pakistan for transfer of technology and to assist Pakistanis to improve their skill. MCCI President Jalaluddin Roomi said that Netherlands should provide warehouses in its country to introduce the Pakistani products. He said that Pakistan offers opportunities for Dutch companies in the cattle and dairy farming ,beef and chicken processing (for the large domestic market, but also for export to the large halal market in the Persian Gulf);fruit, vegetable and flower cultivation and post-harvest management (especially for the large agribusiness sector in South Punjab);water management (water supply and purification); energy (given the acute energy shortage in Pakistan, there is much demand from industry for wind, bio-gas and solar energy solutions);consumer goods (especially high-quality dairy products and cosmetics);IT (outsourcing). Umair Ahmed said the Netherlands supported projects on good governance, water, education and the environment. During the phase-out period, a transition programme was set up to contribute to peace, security and stability in the region.Since 2010, the EU has provided some €500-600 million in humanitarian and development aid. From 2014, the focus of the development relationship between the EU and Pakistan were on good governance, the rule of law, human rights, education and rural development.M. Anis Khawaja suggested that Netherlands should cooperate in Poultry and agriculture so that this sector could stand on its own feet.Khawaja Hassam-uddin, Khawaja Najmuddin, Khurram Javed,Tariq Hassan, Ghulam Jilani and Javed Anjum also joined them.
