Nawaz meets Turkish envoy and visiting head of KOC Group. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday declared that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would turn Pakistan into “a regional manufacturing hub and a lucrative market for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)”.
The premier pointed out that the CPEC comprised major infrastructure, energy and communication projects.
He said this during a meeting with President of KOC Group of Turkey Fatih Kemal Ebiclioglu who called on him along with a delegation at the PM House. Ambassador of Turkey to Pakistan Babur Girgin also attended the meeting.
Pakistan’s outlook, the prime minister said, for attracting FDI was continuously improving and the improvement in security situation had also boosted Pakistan’s position as an attractive destination for FDI in the past three years.
Welcoming the delegation, the prime minister said that the government and people of Pakistan attached great importance to relationship with Turkey as both countries shared common perceptions on all regional and international issues.
Prime Minister Sharif appreciated KOC Group’s initiative to enter the Pakistani market by acquiring Dawlance, Pakistan’s premium home appliances company.
Appreciating the current quantum of FDI from Turkey to Pakistan in energy, infrastructure, construction and services sectors, the prime minister expressed the hope that there would be a substantial increase in investment from Turkey in future.
“Our investment policy has been designed to provide a comprehensive framework for creating a conducive business environment for the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment; Pakistan’s policy trends have been consistent, with liberalisation, de-regulation, privatisation, and facilitation, being its foremost cornerstone,” he said.
“It is encouraging that leading Turkish companies are interested in investing in Pakistan’s energy, infrastructure, construction and services sectors,” the prime minister said.
Appreciating the economic turnaround achieved by the incumbent government, Fatih Kemal Ebiclioglu said that Pakistan was an ideal place for investment and his company was determined to make further investment in different sectors.
He said that acknowledgement of Pakistan’s improved economic credentials by credible International Financial Institutions (IFIs) was indeed commendable.
“Pakistan has immense potential for investment which is bound to increase in the near future because of the government’s prudent economic and investor-friendly policies,” he added.
Other members of the delegation included Levent Cakirogiu, Hakan Hamdi Bulgurlu and Salih Arslantas. Finance Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, Board of Investment (BoI) chairman Mifta Ismail and other senior government officials attended the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2016.
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