Joao Paulo Sabido Costa, Charge’d Affairs En Pied, Portugal

An interview with His Excellency 

Joao Paulo Sabido Costa, 

Charge’d Affairs En Pied, Portugal

Shamim Masih

Shamim Masih with Joao Pualo Sabido Coasta

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Portugal has good relations in textiles sector, but we should focus on diversifying our cooperation to achieve mutually beneficial results. During the interview he said that Portugal is quite strong in high technology and exporting high value technology products. Pakistan should also enhance collaboration with Portugal to manufacture and export value added technological products. Portugal is famous tourism destination and Pakistan should benefit from its experience to promote its tourism industry.

Pakistan and Portugal need to take new initiatives to improve bilateral trade as the current volume of two- way trade is far below their true potential.

He said to top all untapped areas of cooperation; both countries should encourage frequent exchange of trade delegation and facilitate private sectors in making direct contracts. Talking about the renewable energy, Joao Paulo Sabido Casta told that Portugal is one of the leading wind energy producers and generating more than 61.7 percent electricity through renewable energy sources while Pakistan should focus on enhancing cooperation with in energy sector to overcome its energy problems.

There are possibilities for enhancing bilateral trade and economic relation between Pakistan and Portugal. Talking about GSP Plus status to by the EU, Portugal Ambassador said Portugal focus on enhancing import of Pakistani textiles, garments and leather products and will help Pakistan in getting easy market access to EU markets.

He said Pakistan has improved a lot in security situation and after the long war against terrorism, Pakistan offered great incentives to foreign investors with profitable returns on investments in different sectors of its economy including energy, infrastructure development and many other areas. Joao Paulo Sabido Casta appreciated the present government initiatives and said that sitting government determined to initiate many development projects and Portugal investors will come to Pakistan in maximum number to explore business and investment opportunities.

We are looking for to develop our relations in all areas not only traditional but political, cultural and economic. I am going to start to meet people from different walks of life, members of chamber of commerce, political and members from civil society. He said that his priority is to see the business people to develop trade relation with Pakistan. We plan to develop relation in exchange delegation with Pakistan. Portugal embassy is working with Brazil embassy to teach protégées language in the country.

Talking about the security situation in Pakistan, he said that I feel safe here in the capital. For the recent years, security situation has improved much and visitors feel comfortable now. Portugal incharge’d affairs said that if the security situation is good, foreign investors will take interest in Pakistan. Pakistani’s are good in sports, so Pakistan and Portugal can develop relation in games as well.