SARAJEVO: Pakistan and Bosnia Herzegovina have agreed to further strengthen their bilateral cooperation in trade, agriculture, textile, education and defence sectors.
The understanding came during talks between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Bosnian counterpart Denis Zvizdic in Sarajevo on Wednesday.
Later, speaking at a joint news conference, PM Sharif said the two sides had a most productive and detailed round of talks and have agreed to strengthen their collaboration in investment and culture. He said Pakistan’s economy has shown great improvement in several years and the growth rate has increased.
He invited Bosnian businessmen and entrepreneurs to take advantage of investment opportunities in Pakistan. He said Bosnia has a vibrant textile industry and a dynamic agriculture sector and Pakistan would like to seek its cooperation in these sectors.
The Bosnian Prime Minister said Pakistan is a sincere friend of Bosnia and thanked it for providing assistance to the country over the last 25 years.
He said it is time to move our relations to new phase and explore possibility of developing their trade relations. He expressed satisfaction that trade between the two countries has registered growth during the last one year.
The Bosnian Prime Minister said signing of different agreements would also help bolster ties between the two countries. He said the Joint Commission of the two countries should identify more areas for cooperation.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was given a formal warm welcome at the Institutions Building – the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina – as he began his three-day official visit.
A red carpet was rolled out for the premier outside the parliament building, who was received by his Bosnian counterpart, Dr Denis Zvizdic, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister).
The national anthems of the two countries were played on this occasion while a contingent of Bosnian forces saluted Prime Minister Sharif following which he reviewed a guard of honour.
Prime Minister Sharif along with his wife Kulsoom Nawaz and Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi arrived in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Tuesday. Bosnian Minister for Transport and Communication Ismir Juskoat received him at the airport.
