Germany assures Pakistan on greater access to European markets

Germany has assured Pakistan to get bigger access to European markets while Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said relations with Germany have entered into a new era. He said that US drone attacks are counterproductive and are creating difficulties for Operation in Waziristan. In a joint press conference after the meeting with Germen Chancellor Angela Merkel, PM Gilani said that Germany is the biggest trade partner of Pakistan in the European Union. He thanked the German government to support Pakistan on different issues including war on terror. Chancellor Merkel pointed to the long political and business cooperation between Pakistan and Germany over the decades and said the two sides agreed to maintain a strategic political dialogue.She also recalled their brief meeting in Beijing and said Gilanis current visit will bolster the bilateral relations between the two countries.The two leaders also mentioned the inking of a new Bilateral Investment Treaty by their respective investment ministers and hoped the private sectors of the two countries would immensely benefit and boost the two-way trade. The new investment protection agreement will lay a solid foundation for future between the two countries and enable her country to help Pakistan in energy, mutual investments, and technology transfer, Merkel said.She said the new investment protection agreement will lay a solid foundation for future between the two countries and added that her country will help Pakistan in energy, mutual investments, and technology transfer.The two leaders also agreed to further deepen and broaden their cooperation in multifaceted fields and to focus on expanding economic ties as a follow up of signing of new investment agreement.Prime Minister Gilani said Germany being one of the largest economies of the European Union can assist Pakistan for greater access to its goods to the European markets. He said Pakistan desires improvement of trade and economic ties with Europe, and said Germany can play a key role in helping it with a Free Trade Agreement with the EU.Chancellor Merkel said the government will show constructive attitude and encourage the EU to promote these matters. The strategic importance of Pakistan is seen by all and other members of the EU are understood to have seen its importance.