UK is ‘upbeat’ about investment: official

British Deputy High Commissioner meets Hyderabad’s business community.


Express November 10, 2011

HYDERABAD: The British Deputy High Commissioner Francis Campbell said that despite some challenges in the investment climate of Pakistan, UK investors are ‘upbeat’ about business ventures in the country.

“It is a tangible, practical business to business relationship that we want to build,” he reiterated while addressing a meeting of business community representatives at Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) on Thursday.

Bilateral trade stands at around $1.6 billion, with an increase of 25% exports from UK to Pakistan and 16% from Pakistan to the UK recorded in the first nine months of 2010. In April, the two countries vowed to achieve the trade target of £2.5 billion by 2015.

On his first visit to the city, Campbell, who is also Director UK Trade and Investment, was briefed about investment prospects in the textile, motorcycle and agro-based industries of Hyderabad and adjoining cities.

The businessmen also briefly explained the scope for investment in coal mining and power sector while presenting the city as the second biggest.

“The government of the United Kingdom can only play a match making role - you approach us with specific investment opportunities so that we can connect you to the prospective investors,” he advised.

However, he dodged a question as to what role the agricultural based industries can contribute to the trade target of £2.5 billion by 2015. “The Pakistani High Commissioner to the UK is a real ambassador for mangoes from Sindh... each year he presents them to the Queen and Prince Charles,” he quipped to highlight importance of Pakistan’s agricultural exports to the UK.

The businessmen of Hyderabad who were not invited at a recent Pakistan Investment Conference in the UK were assured of their representation in any similar event in the future.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th,  2011.

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