Prime Minister Sharif praises bilateral cooperation with Italy
Pakistan launches its national policy for the olive supply chain, thanking Italy as a crucial partner for the development of the sector.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking at the ceremony, underlined Italy’s long-standing support for the country’s emerging olive growing sector and announced a new training initiative for young Pakistani agricultural graduates.
Thanking Italy for over 70 years of cooperation with Pakistan in agriculture, trade and industry, describing the partnership as crucial to the development of the country’s olive sector, the Prime Minister announced that the country will finance the training of 100 young agricultural graduates in Italy in the cultivation, processing and marketing of olives, with the aim of strengthening Pakistan’s national olive supply chain upon their return.
The prime minister also thanked Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for Italy’s continued support and recalled decades of bilateral exchanges, noting that Pakistan has been importing Italian textile machinery since the 1960s and 1970s and describing cooperation in tractor manufacturing as another successful area of collaboration.
Italian Ambassador Ugo Ciarlatani said the new policy reflects a partnership between Italy and Pakistan that has lasted for more than seven decades. He added that Italian cooperation has contributed to the creation of sensory and phytosanitary laboratories, the training of phytopathologists and chemists, the support of seven certified nurseries and the creation of 36 business development groups led by women and young entrepreneurs. Ciarlatani also cited the professional capacity development and agricultural extension programme, worth 20 million euros, as the latest example of Italian support for Pakistan’s agricultural development. Finally, he described olive oil as “part of our identity, our traditions and our lifestyle”, underlining its cultural importance in Italy. Officials at the event announced that this year Pakistan gained permanent membership in the International Olive Council and established its first olive sensory evaluation laboratory in Islamabad.
