“International trade in Green Technologies”
(via Erasmus exchange programme)
Comments by Marco Marchetti, Consultant AICS Country Office, Embassy of Italy, Islamabad.
Pakistan
1) How viable do you feel is this topic for collaboration between Italy and Pakistan? Do
you feel there are sufficient economic benefits for both countries in this field?
The topic is very interesting for both countries. In our opinion, however, the question about the economic benefits
in the field under consideration is not relevant, as the Erasmus is meant to capacity building and exchange of
experiences.
Italy is striving to establish a green economy, which ideally should be easy, but infact is quite complicated.
Pakistan is also experiencing a lot of difficulties in its pursuit to a greener economy.
Nevertheless, both countries aspire to enhance their level of technologies leading to a green economy. Both countries
have renowned talent and ability in creating new technologies, thus this is also applicable to the Green Economy.
If Italy is ofcourse more advanced due to its level of economy, in respect to Pakistan, the latter is famous for the
“reverse engineering” i.e. the new technologies from Italy can be quickly adapted and adopted locally.
Italian students and teachers will also benefit and enjoy the local inventiveness and highly skilled entrepreneurial
efforts, while experiencing hardest conditions of life and work. Thus providing inspiration and opportunities to
enhance their intellectual and innovative capacity.
Above all, Pakistan shall be able to expand labour opportunities for the youth, which is a major target of the
government, considering that youth constitute a major share of working age, population and one-fourth of the
employed labour force comprises of youth (ages 15-24 years). It represents an important segment of the population
both for economic development as well as from the perspective of an active labour force.
2) Do you feel enough is being done currently by both countries in this field of research and
development?
I am not able to express my opinion about Italy on solid basis. But apparently is not enough what is
being done, although a dedicate Ministry has been created to deal with. Above all, are never enough
on the much-needed funds spent on research and development!
As for Pakistan, there is a lot of theoretical work going on, but very little is done in practice, mainly
due to limitation of funds. But this is not only true for our subject under consideration; it is true for
almost all the fields.
However, there are several “success stories” which shows that the subject is under a relatively fast
development, such as:
- Establishment of the Centre for Environmental Economic and Climate Change (CEECC)
- Pakistan’s universities have also run pilot projects, in areas like cell fuel, biodiesel, ethanol fuel,
innovative lightning systems and fuel cells for vehicle and biogas.
- Production of Electric Vehicles (EV) - Pakistan Green Technology’s Project.
- Achieving Environmental Sustainability through Information Technology: “Digital Pakistan”
Initiative for “Green Development”.
- Finally, international reports suggest the enormous growth in Pakistan in the fields of “Green
Technologies” and as per Global Finance World Economic Union Report Jan 2021, Pakistan is the
2nd largest country of the world, in the growth of “Green Technologies” after China, during
COVID – 19 Pandemic.