|
|
|
|
|
Mr. Zahid Hamid Federal Minister for Privatisation & Investment while
briefing the representatives of the media here today informed that a three day
ECO moot on Privatisation will be inaugurated on April 10, 2007 at Islamabad,
which is being participated by more than 30 delegates from 10 member countries
including Pakistan. The Conference will conclude on April 12, 2007
Giving the details the Minister said that the First Meeting of High Level
Experts Group (HLEG) on Privatisation & Private Sector Development will have
two sessions. In the first inaugural session on April 10, 2007, a presentation
will be made by the ECO Secretariat on ECO Cooperation in the field of
Privatisation and Private Sector Development.
During the second session High Level Experts of Republic of Afghanistan,
Republic of Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan and
the Kyrgyz Republic will make country presentations.
On April 11, 2007 the presentation by Islamic Republic of Pakistan will
include papers on Role of the Government and Legal & Regulatory Framework of
the Privatisation Commission by Pir Saad Ahsanuddin, Member PC Board, paper by
Mr. Abdul Ahad Effendi, Consultant (Banking) on Role of Financial Advisors in
Privatisation Process and paper on Workers Welfare Measures by Mr. Muhammad
Asghar, Senior Financial Consultant.
On April 12, 2007 the Second Meeting of Heads of Privatisation Administration
of ECO Member States will be inaugurated and report of the meeting will be
adopted. The HOPA Meeting will consider the proposals by HLEG; review the Plan
of Action and exchange view on privatisation policies and practices etc.
The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is a regional, intergovernmental
organization of ten countries: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Republic of
Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic,
Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Turkey,
Turkmenistan and Republic of Uzbekistan, covering 7.9 million sq. km with
around 380 million population. The ECO region is endowed with immense natural
resources and enjoys a very strategic geographic location at the crossroads of
main commercial centers and regions.
The principal objective of ECO includes fostering of economic development of
member states; removing trade barriers, promoting intra-regional trade and
stimulating economic liberalization, privatisation and the gradual integration
of the region into the world economy. All these objectives require a high
level of cooperation in the field of industry, investment and privatisation.
In fact, various ECO documents, i.e. Quetta Plan of Action, Resolution of
Council of Ministers emphasize the importance of Industrial cooperation.
Within the framework of industrial cooperation, the ECO Secretariat has
organized various events in the field of privatisation and private sector
development. The First ECO Ministerial Meeting (January, 2004) adopted the
Tehran Declaration and Plan of Action on Industrial Cooperation. The Plan of
Action on Industrial Cooperation states that the member countries will
cooperate with each other for industrial restructuring efforts, policies
including development of entrepreneurial skills, privatisation, post
privatisation support, SME support, reforming public enterprises through joint
programs, projects, workshops, short and long term training courses etc.
On the directives of the Ministerial Meeting, the High Level Experts Group (HLEG)
on Privatisation and Private Sector Development has been established to assist
these institutions in their privatisation efforts by providing a channel for
sharing of experiences, know -how, documentation and skills in the
implementation of regional privatisation activities. The First Meeting of
Heads of Privatisation Administration of the MEMBER states was held in July
2004 in Tehran, which finalized the draft Plan of Privatisation and private
Sector Development. It was approved by the Ministerial Meeting on
Industry/Privatisation in Istanbul in November 2005.
The Plan of Action aims at the expansion of economic interaction among the
member countries, promotion of Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs) and cross
country investment in the privatisation process, strengthening privatisation
organisations, improving legal and regulatory framework for privatisation,
establishing a policy dialogue and review platform with the objective of
contributing to contribute to the efficiency of their privatisation policies
and programmes.