Ambassador of Kingdom of Netherlands to Pakistan Scheltema has expressed the hope that policy shift in trade volume between Netherlands and Pakistan would see positive growth in the coming years.

The government of Netherlands has changed its relationship with Pakistan from development to trade that would boost bilateral trade relations between the two countries”, Ambassador Scheltema said while addressing a press conference here on Thursday.He said that since 2011, the government of Netherlands brought about major shift in its relations with Pakistan to boost bilateral trade that currently stands at $800 million a year.

There is enormous potential to increase bilateral trade between the two countries”, he said, adding that Pakistan fell out of the lists of 29 countries whose development aid from Netherlands was dropped about one and half year ago.Answering a question about the foreign investment opportunities in Pakistan, ambassador Scheltema said it is an attractive place for investment provided the Pakistani authorities could bring to an end to violence in the country and reforms the legal framework for foreign investors.

He said that purpose of his press conference was to share with media a series of planned nationwide activities of the embassy.Similarly, the Embassy plans to hold a one-day master class on the ethics of photo journalism in Lahore and Islamabad on March 7 in Lahore Arts Council and on March 9 in the Press Club Islamabad.The embassy would also arrange an International Jazz Trio concerts in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore next month. Likewise, it also plans to hold a round table on protection and preservation of the Makli cultural heritage.

Moreover, a water expert from Netherlands on water management would visit Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad later this month.The embassy, Scheltema said, would also arrange a national photography competition for the youth between 18-29 years of age affiliated with WPP under title “ Discovering the Netherlands in Pakistan. Photos can be submitted by February 25 and prizes will be distributed on February 28.This would follow launch of a series of local ‘Miffy’ books for young children in April and May.