JALIL HASSAN AKHTAR
LAHORE (March 01 2010): Foreign Secretary of
Argentine Republic, Victorio Taccetti called
on Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz
Sharif, here on Sunday, and discussed
matters of mutual interest as well as
co-operation in different sectors.
Ambassador of Argentine Republic Rodolfo
Jose Martin Sarvavia, Vice Chairman Punjab
Investment Board, Secretaries of LIVESTOCK,
Agriculture and Commerce Departments were
also present on the occasion. The meeting
decided to enhance co-operation between
Punjab and Argentine in LIVESTOCK,
agriculture and other sectors, promotion of
public-private partnership and mutual
exchange of delegations for this purpose.
The Chief Minister said that Punjab was rich
in natural resources and there were vast
opportunities of investment in various
sectors. He said that a working group had
already been constituted for considering the
prospects of co-operation between Punjab and
Argentine in different sectors as well as
promotion of public-private partnership. He
said that Punjab was an agrarian province
and was playing an important role in meeting
the food requirements of the country.
He said that there was a wide scope of
investment in LIVESTOCK sector in Punjab and
introduction of modern technology in this
sector could help overcome poverty and
unemployment problem as well as earn huge
foreign exchange through export of LIVESTOCK
products. He said that about 35 million
rural population of Punjab was associated
with LIVESTOCK sector and the province had
top breeds of cows and buffaloes.
He said that Punjab government was
concentrating on development of LIVESTOCK
sector and a buffalo research institute had
been set up at Pattoki. He said that 6th
Asian Buffalo Conference was recently held
at Lahore and delegates from all over the
world participated in the conference. He
said that a state-of-the-art VETERINARY
university was also being established in
Bahawalpur and an agreement has been signed
with University of Glasgow for this purpose.
Similarly, he said, five community farms
were being established in Cholistan for the
purpose of uplift of LIVESTOCK sector, which
would result in prosperity of the farmers of
the area as well as leave a positive impact
on economy. He said that a modern slaughter-
house was being established in Lahore and
Argentine could provide assistance for this
project.
He said that Argentine should extend
co-operation in the setting up of a meat
processing plant and Punjab and Argentine
could launch a joint venture for mutual
benefit. He said that by setting up meat
processing plant, high quality Halal meat
could be exported to Middle East, Iran,
Turkey and other countries for earning
foreign exchange. He said that a delegation
would be sent from Punjab to attend buffalo
conference to be held in Argentine in April.
Foreign Secretary of Argentine Republic
Victorio Taccetti expressed deep interest in
co-operation between Punjab and Argentine as
well as launching of joint ventures. He said
that public-private partnership would be
promoted for this purpose. He said that
co-operation would be extended to Punjab in
LIVESTOCK and agriculture sectors. The
Argentine Ambassador said that a working
group was functioning for co-operation
between Punjab and Argentine and there
should be maximum exchange of delegation for
mutual co-operation. Vice Chairman Punjab
Investment Board Pir Saad Ahsanuddin and
Secretary of Agriculture and LIVESTOCK
pointed out the prospects of investment and
co-operation in various sectors.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2010
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