Pakistan Britain Trade and Investment (PBTIF) Seminar at (HSBC) Offices- Manchester

 

MANCHESTER: Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim has expressed confidence that the UK investors will further enhance their investments in Pakistan which is already offering productive returns on their business investments.

 

The Commerce Minister was speaking at a reception followed by Pakistan Britain trade and Investment (PBTIF) seminar organized by HSBC. The reception was hosted by the Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan for the participants of the Business Seminar held earlier in the day.

 

The Minister who was on a five‑day official visit to Britain showed his satisfaction at the outcome of the day long deliberations and said the seminar more than came up to his expectations.

 

Fahim said the UK was already a big investor in Pakistan with more than 100 companies doing business in different sectors but there were plenty of other fields open for investments in his country.

 

He informed the participants of his meetings with the British officials and those from the business community and said he was happy with the positive outcome of these interactions.

 

The Commerce Minister said Pakistan was the ideal place for investments given its investors and business friendly policies and the fact that the country offers 100 per cent repatriation of profits.

 

Fahim slammed the frequent issuance of travel advisories and said this was impeding foreign investment although the situation in Pakistan was generally peaceful except a few pockets in Frontier Province.

 

The Minister said Pakistan Government was endeavouring to tackle the security issue and has sought the assistance of the West as the country was a frontline state in the war on terror.

 

Charlotte Pinder, Executive Officer, Asia House, and Executive Director, Pakistan‑Britain Trade and Investment Forum (PBTIF), spoke of the business opportunities in Pakistan and urged the British investors to take maximum advantage of the facilities being offered by the country to attract foreign business.

 

“Pakistan is an easy country to do business as compared to some of the other countries of the world and there exists many fields which could be explored for investments, she said.

 

She mentioned these sectors as agriculture, food processing, energy, textiles, road buildings and alternate energy.

 

UK Deputy High Commissioner for Trade and Investment based in Karachi, Roberts Gibson spoke of the energy requirements in Pakistan and said this sector has ample investment opportunities for the British business community.

 

 

March 28, 2009