PAKISTAN is looking to further improve its trade, investment and tourism ties with Cambodia, officials said.

Data from the Embassy of Pakistan shows that bilateral trade between the two countries has been good in recent years. In 2011, the total value of two-way trade reached $16 million; and in the first half of this year the figure was $43 million.

Pakistan Ambassador Fazal-ur-Rahman Kazi met with Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on Thursday and said Pakistan wants to see more trade and investment between the two countries, as Asia is becoming the main driver of global growth.

“Now, with European countries still in a financial crisis, Pakistan is now focussing on Asia which has high economic growth rates,” he said.

“The reason why Pakistan wants to build a stronger economic relationship with Cambodia is because we noticed that Cambodia has enjoyed strong growth of more than 6 per cent last year. Pakistan wants to have an excellent bilateral relationship,” said Kazi.

“Cambodia should take greater advantage of this relationship with Pakistan because it has improved education and hospital sectors as well as the economy,” he said.

“We hope that Pakistan will have more economic engagement with all members of ASEAN,” he added.

The ambassador also thanked Cambodia for facilitating better ties between Pakistan and the other ASEAN member countries.

At the same time, Sok An said both countries will keep pursuing further enhancement in both political and economic ties for mutual benefit. He also hoped for relations between the two countries will improve further.

“Now, we’ve not only got very good bilateral cooperation, but we also want to see more trade and investment for the benefit of both countries,” said Sok An.