Amb. Shaukat Ali Mukadam
I would like to express my deepest appreciation and thanks to The Korea Herald for bringing out a supplement on the occasion of President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to Korea. Pakistan has developed tremendously under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.
During his visit, Zardari will have a summit with Korean President Lee Myung-bak and also meet the heads of Korean conglomerates to bolster trade and investment activities between the two countries. He will also address four associations ― the Korea International Trade Association, the Federation of Korean Industries, the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business.
Pakistan and Korea have excellent bilateral relations in the political, economic, trade, cultural, military and educational fields. We have 39 MOUs and agreements, which is testimony to the solid foundation of our relationship. Our relations, which were established in 1968 at the consular level and at the ambassadorial level in 1983, have progressed exponentially in the intervening years in all areas. Our bilateral trade, which was in the region of $94 million in the 1980s, surpassed $1.55 billion in 2011, with Pakistan’s exports being $736.963 million and Korean exports to Pakistan $819.657 million.
Most prominent Korean conglomerates such as Lotte Group, K-Water, Sambu, POSCO, CX SOLAR, Daewoo E&C, Doosan, Doekjae and Ssangyong are engaged in bids for huge infrastructure projects including roads, chemical plants, tunnels, hydro power projects and thermal power projects. Some of the most significant investments are by Lotte Group in a chemical plant, which was acquired from ICI to produce pure terephthalic acid used in the textile industry, and subsequent acquisition of a food and beverage company, KOLSON Foods. Sambu had built the 8.6-kilometer Lawari tunnel and is participating in the 84-megawatt New Bong Hydro Power project in Azad Kashmir.
A consortium of K-Water and Daewoo E&C have started work on the 150-megawatt Patrind run of the river Hydel Water Project. Korean companies have expressed their interest in participating in numerous other hydro-electric power projects in Pakistan. Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction Co. has completed the combined cycle power plant of 175 megawatts. Ssangyong E&C has completed work on reinforcing old ports and construction of docks and subsidiary facilities at Karachi port. Currently, it is working on the reconstruction of berths in Karachi. The DeokJae Construction Ltd. has nearly completed the Mirpurkhas-Hyderabad 67-kilometer dual carriageway, a public-private partnership project of the Sindh government. POSCO and other steel giants have invested in Tawariqi Steel in Karachi, a project in which POSCO has a sizeable investment.
Cultural links between Pakistan and Korea are based on a cultural agreement signed in 2006, which will be renewed during a high-level visit. The agreements provide for, among other things, the promotion of cultural exchanges, photographic exhibitions and exchange of arts and artifacts. Establishment of Heritage University of Taxila for the promotion of cultural relations between Korea and Pakistan will further cement our cultural bonds and revive the ancient glory and the academic excellence of our heritage.
Many high-level Pakistani visits to Korea have taken place in the past, including two presidents and three prime ministers. In 2011, Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Qasim Ali Shah visited Seoul, heading a 30-member delegation from the Sindh Board of Investment, and had fruitful meetings with Korean counterparts. The visit by former Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani to attend the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit from March 25-28, 2012, during which he also met the Korean prime minister and conglomerates provided further impetus to trade and economic activities. Pakistan also participated in the Yeosu Expo 2012 held in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, from May to August, and a 13-member Korean business delegation participated in Expos 2010, 2011 and 2012 in Karachi.
A joint ministerial commission encompasses all areas of political, economic, trade, educational and cultural relations. The Bilateral Policy Consultation is another forum to foster our linkages. Talks are held regularly between the foreign secretary of Pakistan and the vice minister of Korea. The last talks were held in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2011.
The Pakistani community in Korea is around 10,000 which include workers, businessmen, professionals and students. A number of Pakistanis have been here for the last 20 years and established their own business in South Korea.
The Pakistani community is very active and engaged in promoting Korea-Pakistan relations. They participate wholeheartedly in the economic development of Korea. Pakistani mangos were first exported to Korea in 2012, and we are exploring the possibility of exporting white basmati rice.
President Zardari’s visit to Korea will open new avenues of trade, investment and other aspects of our bilateral relations.
