Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz met the new French Ambassador to Pakistan, Jean-Noël Poirier, in Lahore on Saturday to explore avenues for strengthening bilateral relations, trade and investment and industrial cooperation between Punjab and France. The chief minister welcomed the ambassador on his arrival in Lahore, congratulated him on assuming his new diplomatic responsibilities and appreciated his diplomatic services, before the two sides turned to economic cooperation.

The meeting discussed opportunities to enhance economic, commercial and investment cooperation, with a focus on developing stronger provincial-level partnerships between Punjab and French institutions. The chief minister invited French investors to explore opportunities in Punjab's agriculture, industrial and livestock sectors through the Punjab Innovation for Value, Opportunity and Transformation initiative, known as PIVOT. She said greater engagement with French companies could open new avenues for industrial development, technology transfer and economic growth.

GSP+ and the sectors on offer

A central topic was Pakistan's GSP+ status, the preferential trade arrangement that gives Pakistani products access to European markets. The chief minister described it as a lifeline for Pakistan's exports, particularly for Punjab's textile, garments, sports goods and leather industries, and stressed that France's support was important for safeguarding Pakistan's trade interests within the European Union. She cited Pakistan's exports to the EU at approximately 8.96 billion dollars during the 2025-26 fiscal year, and thanked France for a 180 million euro loan for National Transmission and Despatch Company transmission lines and grid stations in Punjab.

The chief minister also set out specific openings for French firms: dairy, food-processing and cold-chain companies to modernise agriculture, utility companies to take part in water supply, wastewater management and sewerage under public-private partnerships, and energy companies to explore solar power, grid infrastructure and energy-efficiency projects. The ambassador invited her to visit France to explore opportunities for expanding bilateral trade, and both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening relations.