Pakistan President Calls for Better Access to European Markets

By Jim.Robinson|September 24, 2009

September 18

In a speech delivered in London to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari said that better access to European markets would allow his country to develop its economy and build its democratic tradition.

“We need to create expanded economic opportunities for the teeming millions. It is important that Pakistan is allowed market access to the countries of European Union,” Zardari stated. He also noted that reduced trade restrictions could allow cotton exports from his country to triple. Pakistan is the fourth largest cotton producing country in the world and has the second-largest economy in south Asia.

In August, Zardari made a four-day visit to China to study the agriculture-rich Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces. According to the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, Zardari said during the trip that he wants Pakistan to adopt the Chinese cotton development model, which includes greater use of disease resistant hybrid cotton seeds.

Pakistan’s federal ministry for production and agriculture has reported that the current cotton crop may fall 7 percent lower than earlier projections.   New government estimates indicate the current crop will reach 14 million bales, up from last season’s 12.8 million bales.