Pakistan offers best environment for investment : Nawaz Sharif

KUWAIT: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said Pakistan offers an ideal and conducive environment for foreign investments and government is ensuring all possible facilitation for investors.

He was talking to a delegation comprising members of Kuwait Chamber of Commerce at Bayan Palace in Kuwait, on Monday.

Highlighting key economic achievements of Pakistan, the Prime Minister said Pakistan's economy is back on track after strenuous efforts of the present government. He said leading financial institutions of the world have acknowledged the tremendous achievements made by Pakistan in the areas of macroeconomic stability, GDP growth, low inflation and achieving new heights in stock exchange.

Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said his government has largely overcome the issue of power shortages and the country's industrial sector is provided uninterrupted supply of electricity. 

He further said mega investments are being made in diverse fields of energy including hydel, thermal, coal, solar and wind. These huge investments, coupled with the dedicated team work of the government, will enable Pakistan to completely overcome the energy shortages.

The Prime Minister said special focus is being given to building infrastructure, motorways and expressways all over Pakistan. China Pakistan Economic Corridor alone has the potential to accelerate trade and business activities in the entire region. He said we will welcome countries of the region to join CPEC and reap the benefits.

Muhammad Nawaz Sharif urged the Kuwaiti business community to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan.  The meeting was attended by Shahid Khaqan Abbassi Minister Petroleum, SAPM Tariq Fatemi, Miftah Ismaeel Chairman BOI. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has received warm welcome on arrival in Kuwait on a two-day official visit Monday.

Advisor of the Kuwaiti Prime Minister Shaikh Saleem-ul-Jabar welcomed the Prime Minister at the airport. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Syed Tariq Fatemi and Chairman Board of Investment Miftah Ismail are accompanying the Prime Minister.

During the visit, the Prime Minister will meet the Kuwaiti leadership for in-depth review of various aspects of the traditionally close and brotherly relations between the two countries. The Prime Minister will also address gatherings of select Kuwaiti investors, as well as members of Pakistani community residing in Kuwait.

Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, will receive the Prime Minister in Bayan Palace for a detailed meeting, on Tuesday. 

The Prime Minister will hold delegation level talks with the Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Important regional and international issues of mutual interest are expected to come under discussion during the visit.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will also meet the Speaker of the Kuwaiti Parliament, Marzouk Al Ghanim. Pakistan-Kuwait parliamentary relations have seen enhanced cooperation in recent years.

In each of these meetings, the Prime Minister will exchange views with the Kuwaiti side to further expand the existing level of cooperation between Pakistan and Kuwait in diverse sectors. 

These include promotion of bilateral trade and investment and upgrading the well-placed institutionalized cooperation in the fields of petroleum and natural resources, financial sector, defence, export of manpower, health services, industrial sector, and media and information technology etc. Both sides will also review the progress made so far under various existing Agreements and MoUs in various fields.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will also address a group of leading Kuwaiti investors and businessmen. Kuwait is a leading GCC investor in Pakistan. This visit will provide a useful opportunity to highlight the lucrative business environment available in Pakistan to foreign investors, in diverse fields. The Prime Minister will underline the unique role Pakistan can play as a bridge to promote connectivity and economic progress among its neighboring regions, including the GCC countries.

The visit will also prove useful in highlighting the role and exemplary services of over 114,000 Pakistani community members who have contributed to various sectors in Kuwait. The community contributes towards progress and prosperity of both Kuwait and Pakistan. The Prime Minister will address a select gathering of Pakistani community members residing in Kuwait.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's visit to Kuwait is part of the regular high level exchanges between the two sides. On the invitation of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah had undertaken an official visit to Pakistan on 10-12 November 2013, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations. He was the first Head of Government from a GCC country to visit Pakistan, after Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif took office in May 2013. - NNI