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Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s visit to the World Economic Forum (WEF) at
Davos and official visit to Brussels were remarkably successful. Mr. Zahid
Hamid Federal Minister for Privatisation & Investment and a member of Prime
Minister’s official entourage stated on his return from Brussels, Belgium here
today.
He said that foreign investors expressed great interest in Pakistan and
appreciated the investment-friendly policies and outstanding economic
performance of the country during last several years particularly rate of
growth and record levels of foreign investment. The recent mergers and
acquisitions in the financial and telecom sectors in Pakistan in particular
were frequent topics of conversation among the international business
community. In a meeting with the Prime Minister, renowned Professor Michael
Porter of Harvard Business School disclosed that according to a recent survey
Pakistan was ranked much higher than its neighbors in so far as dynamism,
competitiveness and ease of doing business are concerned.
Mr. Zahid Hamid said that Pakistan was now very prominent on the radar screen
of international investors and they were closely monitoring its progress and
development on the economic and investment front. The Chief Executives of the
a number of leading institutions such as Carlyle Group, Barclays, Metro Cash &
Carry, Nestle, Nike, Unilever, Seimens and others appreciated the government’s
economic reforms and expressed their intentions to either make fresh
investment or further increase their investment through expansion in their
operations in Pakistan, thereby taking advantage of the investment friendly,
attractive and liberal economic policies, which provided remarkable incentives
to the investors for growth of their businesses. Carlyle Group of UK, which
manages a major private equity fund, indicated that they would be earmarking
funds for investment in Pakistan. Similarly, Chief Executive of Nestle
informed the Prime Minister of their plans to substantially enhance their
operation in Pakistan by increasing their investment. Metro Cash & Carry also
plans to establish retail outlets all over the country. Unilever and Seimens
also discussed future plans involving enhanced investments.
Elucidating details of the WEF held in DAVOS, Mr. Zahid Hamid said that the
Prime Minister had 45 important meetings in three days with Heads of State and
Governments, Chief Executives of multinational companies and representatives
of non-governmental organizations, civil society and print and electronic
media. The Prime Minister participated in panel discussions on terrorism,
nuclear proliferation, women’s empowerment and inter-religion harmony. He also
held meetings with the President of Switzerland and the Prime Ministers of
Malaysia, Egypt, Vietnam and Ukraine apart from many other diplomats and
political leaders.
Mr. Zahid Hamid further informed that the Prime Minister had a number of
useful meetings in Brussels with overseas Pakistanis and foreign investors and
delivered major policy addresses to European Union’s Committee on Foreign
Affairs of the European Parliament and NATO Council and met with the President
European Union, and EU High Representatives on Foreign and Security Policy,
and Commissioners on Trade and External Relations.