Netherlands Ambassador to Pakistan Jeanette Seppen on Thursday said that they were keen to enhance their trade and investment relations with Pakistan especially in the area of agriculture and agro-based businesses. She was talking to University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan at a meeting held at Syndicate Room. She said that there were prospects for strengthened cooperation in the livestock, agriculture and agro based business. She said efforts are underway to encourage Dutch companies to invest in Pakistan. She said that they were having the population of about 20 million people whereas they were providing the food to 70 million people. She added we are getting the more yield from less agriculture land with the usage of modern technologies.

She said that they are helping the country to ensure the food security that will alleviate the poverty from here. She said “Netherlands is the fifth largest trading country in the world. Its bilateral trade with Pakistan is around $900 million. She said that the agricultural ties between the countries would help get the benefit from each other experiences. She said that they had launched a program on salt tolerant potato in Pakistan. It can enable cultivation in saline areas, which is the great opportunity for Pakistan. She added that water, agriculture, and energy are the main areas of potential cooperation between both countries. She said that Netherlands has vast potential for collaboration in agriculture, education and research. The Ambassador said that Pakistan was one of the most populous countries. It is having talented people. If we polish their skills, it can make the development rapidly. She also said that the women should come forward in the economic activities of Pakistan. She was of the view that many Pakistani students were studying in Netherland as her country was having one of the top universities of the globe. She also said that the universities should provide policy recommendations to the government.

UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan stressed upon the need for food fortification measures to address malnutrition. He said that the country was food surplus but bad eating habit, affordability and distribution issues were creating the problems of food insecurity and malnutrition. He also said that if we provide the value addition to our food produces, the country can make the development rapidly. He said that 40 percent of our grains were being lost in the post harvesting process. He said that Netherlands collaboration with Pakistan in the agricultural sector will pave the way to increase the productivity and to fight the malnutrition issue. He said that UAF and Netherland institutions were enjoying good relations with student exchanges programme and some UAF faculty members had also obtained the degrees from there. He said that the UAF had initiated ever-first degree program in Food Nutrition and Dietetics in the country which was copied in the 15 universities of the globe. The Ambassador also visited the Day Care Center, Women Complex, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Post Harvest Lab, Soil Sciences and the Faculty of Food and Home Sciences.