Pakistan gateway to Asian boom – envoy

H.E. Mr Javed presents his credentials to President Rene

The newly accredited Pakistani High Commissioner to Seychelles has said that he views his country as Seychelles' gateway to sharing in the benefits of the Asian economic boom.

His Excellency Mr Syed Hasan Javed said that the last five years have seen strong economic growth in Pakistan and that Seychelles could benefit from this growth as, "We are neighbours bonded by the Indian Ocean."

The High Commissioner was speaking Tuesday February 10 at State House, shortly after presenting his credentials to President France Albert Rene.

The new High Commissioner noted that, during recent years, links between Pakistan and the outside world had not been as strong as many would have wished, pointing to economic difficulties throughout the 1990s and tensions with neighbouring India as being the primary reasons for this.

With the current economic upsurge and the thawing of Indo-Pakistani relations, H.E. Mr Javed said that, "Pakistan's capacity to engage our friends in this part of the world has increased."

The High Commissioner also noted a lack of awareness by both nations of the opportunities presented by the other and suggested that mutually beneficial links could be established in areas such as tourism, commerce and fisheries.

H.E. Mr Javed drew attention to the presence of Pakistani expatriates working as teachers and doctors in Seychelles and his country's well established banking presence, with Pakistan's second largest commercial bank, the Habib Bank, having been operational in Seychelles for nearly 30 years.

The new High Commissioner said that he will devote his time to facilitating any requests put to Pakistan by the Seychelles government.

During his term in office Mr Javed will be resident in Mauritius.

LINKS