JORDAN: At a Dead Sea resort on Saturday, President Asif Zardari told the World Economic Forum that Pakistan was alive and kicking with economic opportunity.
In a session titled “A conversation with the President of Pakistan”, conducted by Professor Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, Zardari listed Pakistan’s selling points to the international audience.
The president mentioned the country’s strategic location next to the world’s largest growing economies, China and India, a youthful and productive workforce, a population approaching 200 million and liberal economic and political policies.
Zardari claimed these factors make Pakistan a force multiplier for the economies of the region straddling across China, India and the Middle East. Pakistan’s geopolitical location, he added, places it as a gateway to Central Asia, with the bonus of being able to provide access to warm waters.
Pakistan’s contribution in the war on terror was also mentioned, as Zardari emphasised the importance of an environment of peace and stability in order for entrepreneurial activity to thrive.
After the president’s speech, the floor was opened up for questions. Zardari spoke on a host of issues, including the potential of Pakistani youth – not just in their home country but also abroad. Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar quoted the president as saying that with the migration of Indian and Chinese citizens back to their respective countries, Pakistanis can fill the gap.
According to Babar, Zardari cited the Benazir Income Support Programme as a route through which more young people would be trained to take up vocations all over the world. The programme also helps disempowered elements within Pakistani society, Zardari said, adding that Pakistan is the second largest doctors’ exporter to the US.
The president said that in a world dominated by market economies and energy, there are huge advantages and opportunities for Pakistan and global entrepreneurs. The president also highlighted the negative environmental aspects of global industrialisation, referring to unprecedented floods causing losses worth billions.
Zardari meets Jordanian King
Zardari also called on King Abdullah of Jordan on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.
Bilateral relations and the regional situation were discussed amidst calls for a second round of talks on free trade.
The presidential spokesperson said that the President also called for an early holding of the 9th session of the Joint Ministerial Commission, which he said was a useful forum for enhancing relations in various fields.
The president thanked the monarch for Jordan’s support to Pakistan’s candidature for the non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council, as well as for its relief assistance to the flood victims in Sindh and for often supporting Pakistan in times of need.
Zardari also invited King Abdullah and Queen Rania to Pakistan for a visit.
Along with Babar, Interior Minister Rahman Malik, Chairman Board Of Investment Saleem Mandviwalla and Pakistan’s Ambassador Atiya Mahmood were also present at the meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2011.
COMMENTS (21)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Su 30MKI: I obsolutely agree with you..India is following the same strategy as China...you've got to do a lot of selling abt your country's strong points rather than crying victim of terrorism etc (like a beggar showing his disablity).. Zardari needs some strategic marketing folks around him but does anyone wants to work for him?
@Freeman: "Pakistan have more capability and better infrastruture than india for the business"....Dream on buddy..While we don't claim to have infrastructure like that in China (we are working towards that), India is light years ahead of Pakistan..These kinds of statements doesn't bring investment..working on something that'll convince the international investors (internal security, market access etc)..chest beating doesn't help..
@Sinclair: "Its expatriates, not ex-patriots. What a woeful english your reporters have."
Speaking of correct English, you should have used It's (short for it is) instead of Its. Talk of pot calling the kettle black.
"Zardari said, adding that Pakistan is the second largest doctors’ exporter to the US."
Sad isnt that !
@Billoo Bhaya: I do not think that you have much knowledge about Pakistan. There are several 100 foriegn companies invested in Pakistan.
UK and USA, Japan and European countries companies are investing. Pakistan have more capability and better infrastruture than india for the business.
@Mirza: None of ordinary Pakistani hate with any European or Americans. If we say something that is against the American's policies not agianst the Americans. One day world have to invest in Pakistan as they will not get best place to inest than Pakistan. Who says they are not investing. They are still invest and will keep doing it. There are several 100 foreign companies are in Pakistan and they are investing more as they get better profit here and take that to their own country.
Please stop saying that Pakistani Hate European and American where they do not hate.
@BIllu : You havent watched last yerars world economic forum meet @ davos..It was all indian show..all indian media just hovering around davos, and ask investor to rate india and making various business deals, and there were even india eveningn organized by CII.. Such forum are great platform to promote not just trade , but also giving great country image, boost cultural tie, and tourism....
if you attend industry conference , even a brand like siemens, need to do all PR work to promote it..Otherwise someone else will eat their Market share.
I am fully with what MR zaradari is doing, but what i dont like is, every where he is going around and say, we are biggest victims of terrorism, sir, we all know that, you dont have to remaind us every time. the question is what you been doing to combat it ? infact this is actually working exactly opposite what they actually want, when you talk about terrorism in such forums.
@Samir: Every indian talk always in the hatre of Pakistan they never take anything positive then claim that Pakistani hate us. Why complain??
@Billoo Bhaya: you are just a kid. india of 70s AND 80s was worst than pakistan and our leaders were running around the globe for help. it was russia who became our masters in that era just like US is for pakistan now.Learn some history then post your comments
@Samir: your comments are irrelevent to the article. further...there are other issues across the globe than just terrorism. dont stuck on that point only
@Billoo Bhaya Correct. But pakistan has to start somewhere. This is a positive news for India too (as it would get us in a better shape to fight extremism creeping in our society). But if you can't encourage it then please don't belittle it as well. I don't mind all the shining India and Bollywood talk, but your attitude is not helping with bringing any positivity to the table.
Profit is all we need. Slices of Profit is all that gets distributed into development and security projects.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: You said it! However, with so much hate against the rich and democratic countries of the West, who is going to invest in Pakistan? We have to eliminate terrorism, increase safety and security and respect for the International law before the world would help us out. In addition, the world is not going to just keep giving money to a country that has enough cash to make over 100 nuclear warheads and all the expensive war toys. Thanks for the nice thoughts, regards, Mirza
nice....
Share more links great link....
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: Investors want returns (otherwise they would be like PR)
they are not interested in changing "mindsets"
Its expatriates, not ex-patriots. What a woeful english your reporters have.
Yes you are a victim of terrorism yourself due to the loss of your wife but that doesn't make us Pakistanis innocent on the whole terrorism thing. Why can't we just admit that "strategic depth" and everything our foreign policy has represented since ZA Bhutto has been pure, unadulterated stupidity?
Let's admit our mistakes first. Only then can we clean up.
The mindset which President Asif Ali Zardari referred in his speech at the World Economic Forum can be changed if the foreign governments invest in Pakistan by putting up factories and create employment opportunities in different cities for the unemployed youth.