Italian companies encouraged to invest in energy sector

Special assistant to PM on petroleum assures complete cooperation and facilitation

ISLAMABAD: The government has an open door policy for investment, said Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Petroleum Nadeem Babar.

In a meeting with Italian Ambassador to Pakistan Stefano Pontecorvo, who called on him on Friday, Babar assured complete cooperation and facilitation to Italian companies operating in the energy sector of Pakistan. The special assistant further informed the envoy regarding investment opportunities in oil and gas exploration and production sector of the country. He added that the government had planned to hold open bidding for awarding new oil and gas exploration blocks by the end of this year.

"Pakistan expects that Italian companies will actively participate in the bidding process for new blocks," he remarked.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways and means of joint ventures in the energy sector. Also speaking on the occasion, the envoy said that both the countries had the potential to enhance collaboration in diverse fields including trade, manufacturing, assembling and industries.

Pontecorvo also apprised Babar regarding the problems being faced by Italian companies operating in the energy sector of Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2019.

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