News
Friday, June 25, 2010
Zardari tells world to benefit from Pak investment policies* Says Pakistan's geo-strategic location gives access to a huge market of two billion people
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The international business community should take advantage of the investment friendly policies of Pakistan, which offer special economic zones, tax holidays, a low cost labour force and a very competitive environment together with easy access to a market of nearly two billion people, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Thursday.
The president made these remarks during a meeting with the delegation of Italian parliamentarians headed by Stefano Stefani, chairman of Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies, held at the Presidency on Thursday.
The president said these parliamentary exchanges were helpful towards the convergence of views of the two governments on international issues of mutual concern, besides further cementing the existing bilateral relations.
The president recalling his visit to Italy said, during his visit to Rome last year he had identified various areas for the Italian investors and their business community to invest, for the mutual benefit of the two countries and their people.
Huge market: The president said the geo-strategic location of Pakistan provides an access to a huge market of nearly two billion people, which is a unique opportunity for the business world.
He thanked the Italian government for its active partnership in the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP), and its continued engagement and support to make this process result oriented and successful.
He said he looked forward to the active participation by Italy in the forthcoming FoDP's third ministerial meeting in Brussels, being hosted by the European Union.
"Pakistan expects that the goodwill expressed in the FoDP meeting will translate into concrete steps," he said.
Lauding Italy's role in Pakistan's economic development, the president said we greatly appreciate the Italian support to Pakistan on platforms such as the FoDP and the EU on crucial issues of enhanced market access through the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) plus scheme and the Free Trade Agreement.
It is important, the president said, that the European world takes into account the impact of militancy on Pakistan and its people. Matters relating to further strengthening cooperation with Italy in the areas of agriculture, edible oil, leather, export of semi-skilled and unskilled manpower and technology for marble-quarrying and dressing also came under discussion during the meeting.
The president said Pakistan looks forward to increasing the Pak-Italy cooperation in these areas. Talking about the war against militancy, the president said that Pakistan had paid the heaviest price in terms of both human and material losses and it needed the urgent support of the international community especially its friends, in mitigating the sufferings and losses suffered by it.
He appreciated the Italian assistance for the internally displaced people and swapping of the official debt.
He said that Pakistan looks forward to Italy's continued assistance to share the burden of reconstruction of areas affected by terrorism, extremism and militancy.
Discussing various areas of mutual cooperation, the president said Pakistan has benefited from the participation of Italian archaeological experts in various areas, and cooperation in cultural, educational and scientific contacts should be accorded priority.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk