ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday urged Bahrain to invest in the South Asian nation’s information technology, artificial intelligence and agribusiness sectors as negotiations on a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) enter their final stages.
Sharif is on a two-day visit to Bahrain from Nov. 26-27 and made the remarks as he addressed a business event in Manama. Economic engagement between the two countries has accelerated this year following the Pakistan-Bahrain Investment Summit, where contracts worth $13 million were signed.
Pakistan and Bahrain established diplomatic ties in 1971 and maintain close economic, labor and defense cooperation. Bahrain hosts more than 120,000 Pakistanis, making it an important source of remittances for Islamabad.
“We are committed to convert this challenge into great opportunity by empowering our youth, by training them in the field of IT, AI, vocational training, skill training and together with our Bahraini brothers, entrepreneurs we will create a great momentum in this field,” Sharif said in his address.
“We would request you [Bahraini businesses] to come forward and we would like to work together, learn from your great experience and expertise and make Pakistan’s industry, Pakistan agriculture more vibrant with your advice and your knowledge.”.
