Pakistani High Commissioner presents credentials

Accra, Jan 6, GNA - Mr Zafar Hilaly, Pakistani High Commissioner, said his country and Ghana need to expand their economic co-operation.

He said cultural exchanges between the two countries have been excellent and under it, Ghanaian students have been admitted to institutions of higher learning in Pakistan.

"However, it is in forging greater bilateral economic linkages, especially in the fields of trade, investment and industrial collaboration that we need to do more'', Mr Hilaly said, when he presented his letters of credence to President Jerry John Rawlings at the State House.

He said Pakistan has expertise in the manufacture of machinery for the production of sugar, textiles and cement, motor cycles, vehicle spare parts and also in the production of military hardware.

Mr Hilaly said his country's skills at aircraft manufacturing and maintenance skills are of international standard as well as the manufacture of agricultural tractors.

''Along with members of your administration, I hope to identify the precise areas where there is scope for co-operation and where our expertise could possibly be of benefit to Ghana''. President Rawlings said although globalisation offers enormous opportunities, it also presents risks for developing countries, many of which are too small and economically weak to compete in the global market.

''We will, therefore, need to continue to work even more closely together and strengthen our resolve to adopt and implement measures that will ensure our collective survival and competitiveness in the new dispensation''. Therefore, Ghana has committed itself to strengthen co-operation with Pakistan and other countries of the South with a view to revamping South-South co-operation. GNA