UAE TO INVEST US $ SIX BILLION TO SET UP REFINERY AT KARACHI EP ZONE


Islamabad, June 12, 2007

UAE is all set to invest US $ six billion to set up refinery at Karachi Export Processing Zone. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foreign Minister of UAE informed Mr. Zahid Hamid Federal Minister for Privatisation & Investment during a meeting here today.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foreign Minister of UAE assured full support of UAE government to further promote the private sector and UAE government investment in Pakistan in the fields of energy and real estate sectors.

Earlier, while giving an over view of Pakistan’s economic picture, Mr. Zahid Hamid Federal Minister for Privatisation & Investment informed the visiting dignitary that due to the consistency and continuity of economic reforms and policies based on three pillars of deregulation, liberalization and privatisation, Pakistan has become a safe haven for investors from all over the world. Investors from China, Middle East, Chile, Germany and other countries were expressing keen interest in various sectors of economy.

Mr. Zahid Hamid further stated that Pakistan’s economy was performing much better as the GDP per capita and Exports have doubled, the Foreign Investment as compare to US $ 499 million in 2002 has now raised to historic level of US $ 6 billion plus. It was the economic reforms which have further strengthened the confidence of foreign investors resulted in unexpected response from foreign investors in Euro Bond with lower interest of 6.8 % as compare to 7.12 % of last year which was over subscribed with US $ 3.5 billion while our demand was for US $ 500 million, however, we have picked up US $ 700 million, he said.

He added that Pakistan provided tremendous investment opportunities to all investors in every sector of economy with liberal investment policy and unmatchable incentives in the region with a level playing field. The Secretary Board of Investment (BOI) Mr. Mushtaq Malik briefed the delegation regarding the functioning of BOI.