Interview with honorable H.E. Rolf Holmboe, Ambassador of Denmark to Pakistan

1. Excellency, diplomatic service is a difficult job, which requires diversified expertise, how do you view your diplomatic career, would you please tell us briefly about your professional career.

It is true that it takes time to build what you would call “diplomatic expertise” and that happens through a career in the Foreign Service. Through that you acquire basic diplomatic skills, the “how to do it”. Diplomacy is a way for the countries of the world to interact from such a basic set of rules. It allows us to establish relations, have dialogue and cooperation and resolve issues through peaceful means. Diplomacy is important, because without it we would have conflict. But in an increasingly complex world, diplomats also have to specialize. I have spent a good part of my career in the Middle East, for instance. Having served as an army reserve officer, I have also worked in fragile states or in states emerging for conflict. All diplomats today would probably tend to be specializing in some regions or in some particular field.

• Excellency, as we all know Danish people happens to be the most happiest in Europe, after your appointment how you have found the people of Pakistan.

It has been a great experience for me to come to Pakistan and experience for myself how friendly, open and accommodating Pakistanis actually are. Unfortunately, this is still a well-hidden secret, but we have to bring this to the knowledge of the wider world. It is a great pleasure for me travel round the country and meet the people and cultures throughout Pakistan. Pakistan has great diversity, which it can be proud of, and that diversity is a richness and asset to Pakistan.

• Excellency, could you please characterized the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Denmark

We enjoy excellent bilateral relations. Diplomatically, the dialogue and cooperation is excellent and we have political consultations every year. We have a large community of Pakistanis in Denmark, including members of parliament and prominent members of the media and of society. All this contributes to vibrant exchanges between our two countries at many levels!

• What is your government point of  view on Pakistan’s war against terror

Pakistan has achieved a lot in its fight against extremism and terrorism – you just have to compare the situation five years ago with today to see the difference. The struggle is continuing and there is still some way to go before the scourge of extremism and terrorism is rooted out completely. We have all hope that Pakistan eventually will emerge out of this struggle as an open and moderate country, cherishing its diversity and cultural richness.

• Excellency, Denmark is rich in culture, civilization, heritage and history, how the cultural civilization and heritage exchange could be enhanced between Denmark and Pakistan

We are actually engaged in trying to strengthen the cultural ties between our countries. Pakistani musicians for instance visit Denmark and teach the noble art of Qawwali. A few months ago, we brought over a Pakistani-Danish band called Rocqawali. It is a mixed Pakistani and Danish band and they mix the two musical traditions of Qawwali and rock. The result is amazing. We had them round for a number of concerts and a lot of media took them to their morning shows to show Pakistanis how beautiful such a cultural fusion can be. Recently, we had another Danish band down, the all-female Hun Solo, and they gave a concert at the Euro village celebration of Europe Day in Islamabad and gave a concert in Karachi together with the renowned Pakistani rock group Aaroh. They made absolutely fantastic fusion music together – it just goes to show how much is to gain from openness and cultural interaction!

• Excellency, what is the volume of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Denmark, and how we could improve it

 We have a Trade Council at our embassy and we see it as our most important task to increase the business relationship between Pakistan and Denmark. In 2016, we saw a substantial increase in trade relations, and we are hoping for growth of 10% or more this year. It is not an easy task: there are still negative perceptions on the international level of the security situation in Pakistan. We have to bring companies to come down once to see the situation and the potential for themselves, and then it is a different situation altogether! So, we are actually going on “roadshows” to companies in Denmark to present them opportunities for cooperation with Pakistani partners. We are hoping that engagements will pick up over the coming years. Danish companies can benefit from getting access to the Pakistani markets through a partner who knows it. And Pakistani companies can benefit from cooperating with partners which could help their access to the global markets. It is a win-win situation for both our countries and businesses.

• We would like to know your opinion, and suggestions regarding good governance, democracy and human rights in Pakistan

If you look at the global track record, prosperous and successful countries tend to be those that place a real emphasis on human rights, good governance, democracy and gender equality. Once these features are well established, these countries tend to be the most stable and enjoy the highest economic development. These elements are basic tenements for success because it creates a common understanding and a commitment to a common cause that no dictatorship or autocracy can ever match. The more Pakistan continues to move towards democratic control, good governance, inclusive economic growth, investment in the human capital, empowerment of women and respect for the cultural and religious diversity of the country, the more it will benefit in both economic and social terms.  

• Please Excellency, advise us how we can start different projects on education, health, clean water, sanitation and sustainable cities

Pakistani cities are growing at an amazing pace, and obviously it is a challenge to keep infrastructure and service development on a par with this growth. Education is hugely underfunded in Pakistan, not least in light of the very high population growth. One of the key elements for enabling the vast number of young Pakistanis to access the way that the economy is developing is education. Denmark recognizes the huge health benefits from an improved wastewater treatment in Pakistan. Far too much heavy metals and toxic materials find its way to the water aquifers and float more or less directly into staple and vegetable production. And with climate change, Pakistan will increasingly be in deficit of water. This is the reason why Denmark is now investing in new waste water treatment plants in Pakistan – treated waste water can be rerouted as drinking water instead of just floated into the ground as heavily polluted water. Improving the nutrional and health levels of the population is a must.

• Kindly tell us about different Socio-economic, cultural and educational and facilities offer by Danish Embassy in Pakistan

Our focus right now is to build business relations with Pakistan, because that is what can create real economic growth and thereby bring Pakistanis out of poverty and into the middle class. Obviously, a number of reforms and new policies are needed for Pakistan to really benefit from the current stabilization after a very tumultuous period to go into accelerated growth. Soon, there will be elections, so this challenge will fall upon a new government. We will remain committed to build as strong economic relations as we can to the benefit of both countries, and we will endeavor to build as strong cultural ties as at all possible. The future for Pakistan is engaging with the world and finding its place among the moderate and prosperous countries that always will be the beacon of development in the world.

1. How do you look at CPEC, and possibility of Denmark to be a part of it

CPEC is a unique project between China and Pakistan. China has invested heavily in the road infrastructure of Pakistan, linking the Northern part of the country and not least China with ports in Southern Pakistan. China has invested heavily in the energy sector of Pakistan and is moving its coal expertise to Pakistan to build new coal power plants. This does provide Pakistan with an opportunity, but it is not automatic. Reforms and supportive measures are needed for Pakistan really to emerge as a net exporter to the global market.

1. Excellency could you please tell us your favorite place and food in Pakistan

I have visited a number of places in Pakistan, and I have enjoyed them all and I will look eagerly forward to travelling to all other places! Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Gilgit – they are all different places with different cultures and traditions, but it is so interesting to experience what each and every can offer. I cherish this diversity and richness of culture – and of their food! In Karachi, I cherish the fish and shellfish – that goes without saying. I like spicy food, so a Hyderabadi Karahi – with whole red chillies floating in the sauce – comes high on my list!     

1. Excellency, please assist how media could play role in enhancement of bilateral relations among the two friendly countries

Obviously, media can play a huge role in bridging different cultures and in creating common bonds between people. We have a challenge in that the views of Pakistan outside the country are so negative – for media bad news is good news, and people outside mostly only see the bombs, the terrorism and the extremist outbursts. We have a task in showing the other side of Pakistan. The one that is emerging out of instability, the one that is putting its foot down and saying no to extremism and terrorism, the one that is looking for development and economic growth with hope and expectations. That is the Pakistan of the future and that is the Pakistan that we are investing in! We also cooperate with media to show what Denmark, and the other Nordic countries, are all about. I sense a strong appetite among Pakistanis for engaging with the outside world, and the media is one obvious way for this to happen!  

1. What are the prospects of Denmark private companies and business investment in our  country

We hope that we can convince Danish businesses to engage much more with business partners in Pakistan. We have seen a good increase over the last years of business interaction, and now the ambition is to increase it much more. We are also reengaging investments again from the Governments side. We have three investment projects of 100 million USD each in the pipeline for this year, but it could be more!

1. Government / Business community of Pakistan is trying its level best to have more trade and market  access in Europe, kindly assist us the way and measures Pakistan should adopt to avail this particular facility, and how Denmark could be beneficial to our country

It is true that Pakistani companies have a hard time accessing global markets. For too long a time, they have not had the international partners they need to understand the global markets. Pakistani export fluctuate almost precisely according to the World cotton price development. This is a fragile situation for Pakistan. Through business partnerships, Pakistani companies can learn more about the styles, quality and preferences of markets abroad. And through business partnerships, Pakistani companies can access distribution chains, marketing etc. But most importantly, a stronger cooperation between international and Pakistani companies can allow more value added production in Pakistan to float into the export from this country. That is the future, and the good example is the export coming out if Sialkot – sportswear and surgical instruments of world-class quality – already now.

1. Please any message to the people of Pakistan

I believe that Pakistan is at a crossroads. Pakistan has good growth on the internal markets, more people are moving into the middle classes and sees a strong growth in the retail sector. For Pakistani companies, just focusing on the growth on the internal markets is enough. But as middle classes demand more goods from abroad, the trade deficit will grow if Pakistan is not able to access global markets in a much stronger way than now. Pakistan must open itself to the world, not close itself down behind trade barriers. And Pakistani companies must seek partnerships with international companies as a pathway to bringing more and more goods at a higher and higher value onto the global markets. That is the future for Pakistan!