PAKISTAN INITIATES MAJOR STEPS TO PROMOTE INVESTMENT WITH CHINA-HONG KONG Dr. Hafeez Shaikh addresses Investment Conference at Hong Kong

Islamabad, April 26, 2004

Pakistan has initiated major steps to further promote and speed up the existing investment activity with China-Hong Kong. Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Federal Minister for Privatisation & Investment stated this while addressing Investment Conference inaugurated by the Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, says a message from Hong Kong received here today.

He said that there existed vast scope for Chinese investors to invest in Oil & Gas, Financial Institutions, Telecom, Information Technology, Manufacturing and other sectors in Pakistan. Pakistan provided unmatchable facilities to the investors with out any restriction on the quantum of investment/ equity and they were free to repatriate their profit, he added.

The Minister further stated that the lucrative investment opportunities being offered by Pakistan had attracted large number of investors from within and out side Pakistan without any discrimination between the local and the foreign investors.

Dr. Hafeez Shaikh said that Pakistan-China economic relations were strong and robust. China had made valuable contribution to Pakistan's economic development particularly in the development of infrastructure and setting up basic industry, cooperating closely in the development of Gwadar Port, which would provide important access route to the sea for Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics while large number of important projects such as Karakoram Highway, Thar Coal mining, up-gradation of Pakistan Railways and Power Generation Projects were shining examples of our economic cooperation, he stated.

He highlighted the Pakistan's efforts undertaken for increasing the economic growth through investment and said that the consistency and continuity of our economic, investment and privatisation policies had resulted in the all time record increase in our foreign exchange reserves, the best performing capital markets and restoration of confidence among the investors.

The Minister also held separate meetings with the top leaders of various Chinese business Groups and other delegates from the multinational companies present in Hong Kong, which included Mr. Miteo Pellegrini, President Asia Pacific Phillip Morris International, Hong Kong, while 50 participants from Pakistan's private sector and 250 leading businessmen from Hong Kong and China attended the Investment Conference.