Italy will continue to support Pakistan in olive production: Ambassador of Italy to Pakistan Andreas Ferrarese

Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Second Steering Committee of Olive Culture Holistic and Multi-Professional Mechanism for Pakistani Olive Oil Value Chain project was held at the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Government of Pakistan. His Excellency, Andreas Ferrarese, Ambassador of Italy in Pakistan, & Federal Secretary MNSF&R Mr. Zafar Hassan co-chaired the meeting. Ambassador of Italy to Pakistan, His Excellency, Andreas Ferrarese at the steering committee meeting said, Pakistan has a huge potential for olives. He further said that we have received manifestation from the private sector and a huge market will replace by local production. He appreciates the role of AICs for their commitment. He assured that Italy will continue to support Pakistan in olive production, He thanked and expressed his best wishes for the future of Pakistan. On a welcome note, Federal secretary of National Food Security and Research Mr. Zafar Hassan shared his views and said that Govt of Pakistan always acknowledges the support of Italy, He remarked that every year we spend our precious foreign reserves on import of edible olive oil, this project will help to replace it with the domestic production. On this occasion Director of the “Italian Agency for Development Cooperation” Islamabad, (AICS) Ms. Emanuela Beniniex pressed his thoughts, she explained how AICS & Pakistan put energy together on all segments of olives to bring on the local level. While apprising the forum on the progress of the project, Marco Marchetti International Project Coordinator said that preliminary assessments were completed and policy support in the drafting of the Olive Policy was provided to the Government of Pakistan. Following were the attendees, H.E Ambassador of the Republic of Italy, Andreas Ferrarese. Federal Secretary MNSF&R, Zafar Hassan. Director of the Italian International Cooperation, Ms. Emanuela Benini, Secretary Govt of Punjab, Agriculture Department, Dr. Zafar Iqbal, DG, ARI, Balochistan, Mr. Inam Ul Haq, Joint Secretary, NFSR, Ejaz Ahmad Bajwa, National Project Director, Promotion of olive Cultivation, Dr. Muhammad Tariq Deputy Secretary M/O Economic Affair, Govt of Pakistan, International Project Coordinator, Dr. Marco Marchetti, International Expert, Dr. Costantino Parma, Account / Administrator, Mr. Sanam Samuel, Assistant Communication, Ms. Aimen Nazir, Dr. waqas Cheema, Scientist.