PM Nawaz Sharif is received by Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the ITU Connect Asia Pacific Summit. PHOTO: APP
BANGKOK:
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday invited foreign investment in the upcoming spectrum auction for next generation mobile services and the establishment of technology parks.
“We invite foreign companies to be our partners in harnessing the rich potential of our country that is open for business and keen on working with international investors,” the prime minister said in his keynote address at the Connect Asia Pacific Summit 2013 which began in Bangkok on Monday morning.
The prime minister said that the Government of Pakistan was committed to accelerated digitisation of the country to enable socio-economic development, creating a knowledge-based economy and promoting economic growth.
He said that Pakistan accorded highest priority to the development of information communication technology (ICT) for the provision of quality services, education, employment, generation and women empowerment.
Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan’s telecom infrastructure comprised over 125 million mobile connections, about three million fixed lines, three million wireless local loop subscribers, 19.8 million internet users,15.7 million mobile internet users, and 2.8 million broadband subscribers.
He said that the government had initiated a range of successful programmes to promote ICT opportunities to achieve these goals. He said some of these programmes were models and were being replicated by other countries.
The prime minister said with the population of 180 million, Pakistan was strategically located on the crossroads of south and central Asia and energy-rich Middle East.
He said Pakistan offered 100% equity ownership, full repatriation of capital and dividends and income tax exemption on IT exports until 2016.
He said that the ready availability of skilled professionals, a comprehensive ICT infrastructure, coupled with affordable rates for connectivity and the government’s business-friendly investment policies, made Pakistan an exceptional destination for foreign investors in the ICT sector.
Nawaz Sharif said the Asia-Pacific region was home to some of the largest and most prosperous economies of the world and contributed 40% of the world’s GDP growth, which was set to grow further.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 19th, 2013.
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"The prime minister said that the Government of Pakistan was committed to accelerated digitisation of the country to enable socio-economic development, creating a knowledge-based economy and promoting economic growth." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In a country with Youtube blocked:)!