Maryam Nawaz, French envoy discuss expanding investment in Punjab

The French envoy invited the chief minister to visit France to promote bilateral trade relations, an invitation she appreciated. The chief minister invited French investors to explore investment opportunities in Punjab's agriculture, industrial and livestock sectors under the PIVOT initiative.

She said direct engagement at the provincial level could open new avenues for industrial cooperation and development partnerships. The meeting also included detailed discussions on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) and the potential for increasing Pakistani exports to European markets.

Maryam Nawaz described GSP+ as a lifeline for Pakistan's exports and Punjab's industrial economy, noting that the European Union was Pakistan's largest trading partner. She stressed that preferential access to European markets was crucial for boosting the country's exports.

She said preferential access was particularly important for Punjab's textile, garments, sports goods and leather industries, adding that aligning with the requirements of the new GSP+ framework was essential for Pakistan's export prospects. The chief minister emphasised the need for continued diplomatic engagement and effective dialogue with France to safeguard Pakistan's GSP+ status.

She noted that France had previously supported Pakistan's status at the ministerial level and its cooperation remained important in protecting the country's trade interests within the European Union. Maryam Nawaz said Pakistan's exports to the European Union reached approximately 8.96 billion dollars during the fiscal year 2025-26, expressing interest in further expanding trade and industrial cooperation with France.

She also thanked France for providing a 180 million euro loan for NTDC transmission lines and grid stations in Punjab and invited French investors to participate in the Urban Wastewater Governance Project planned for major cities of the province.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening longstanding friendly relations between Pakistan and France and placing bilateral cooperation on a stronger, long-term institutional footing. The chief minister said the two countries shared decades of friendship and that greater economic cooperation could give their bilateral relations a new direction.

She also praised France's 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen for its enduring principles of freedom, equality and human dignity. She welcomed France's recognition of Palestine and its principled position on justice and equal rights.

Maryam Nawaz said French dairy, food-processing and cold-chain companies could help increase value addition in Punjab's agricultural sector. She added that French utility companies could partner with the provincial government under the public-private partnership (PPP) model to improve urban water, wastewater and solid waste management services.

French energy companies could also participate in solar power, grid development and energy-efficiency projects in industrial estates, while French institutions could help train Punjab's workforce for industrial clusters under the PIVOT initiative.