Summary Says government would ensure full protection and support to the Turkish investment.
LAHORE (Web Desk) - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has invited Turkish businessmen to invest in energy‚ textile and infrastructure building sectors in Pakistan.
Addressing Pak-Turk Business Forum in Lahore on late Monday night‚ he said his government would ensure full protection and support to the Turkish investment.
The PM urged Turkish entrepreneurs to particularly explore the possibilities of investment in the energy sector in Pakistan which has wide-ranging potential in thermal‚ hydel and alternative sources.
He said Pakistan has also embarked upon an ambitious programme of infrastructure development and Turkish cooperation would be welcome. He said the programme includes construction of motorways‚ highways‚ airports and Economic Corridor linking Pakistan and China.
Nawaz Sharif noted that Turkish businessmen have expressed their desire to invest in Diamer-Bhasha and Bunji dams‚ Lahore-Karachi motorway and Gaddani Power Park.
He said Board of Investment of Pakistan is also working with Pak-Turkey Business council in promoting cooperation in textile‚ automobile and communication sectors.
The Prime Minister said economic prosperity of people remains the top priority of the present government.
Nawaz Sharif also recounted the incentives that Pakistan offers to foreign investors including repatriation of the capital‚ profit‚ and tax breaks‚ concessions in custom duties and special economic zones where one window facility is offered.
Addressing the Pakistan-Turkey Business Forum‚ Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey attaches great importance to its relations with Pakistan. He said Turkey will take benefit of investment opportunities in Pakistan.
The Turkish PM said with the visit of Turkish businessmen to Pakistan‚ a new chapter of trade will be opened between the two countries.
He said he is thankful of the Pakistan Government for encouraging the Turkish businessmen. He said people of Turkey and Pakistan are brothers and the Turkish people take Pakistan as their second home.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey wants to enhance trade volume with Pakistan. He said his country is also ready to increase cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan in different fields including agriculture and tourism.
Three MOUs were signed on the occasion for cooperation between the two countries in different fields.
Addressing the forum Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said the structural reforms and the macroeconomic stability programme of the government have shown impressive results during the last five years.
He said tax collection grew by seventeen percent‚ remittances increased by seven percent and stock market capitalization enhanced by twenty seven percent.
The Finance Minister said international credit rating agencies are projecting positive outlook for Pakistan and all major donors are happily dealing with it.
Addressing the forum‚ Turkish Minister for Economy‚ Zafar Shayalan said Turkey accords high priority to its economic and trade relations with Pakistan.
He said Turkey is going to open up more corridors of engagement with Pakistan to enhance trade cooperation.
Turkish Minister said their exports to Pakistan are worth two hundred and seventy six million dollars. He said there is less budget deficit in Turkey as compared to European countries.
Speaking on the occasion‚ Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif recalled the close and historic bonds between the two countries .But emphasized the need to go beyond to forge a strong economic partnership to the mutual advantage.
He said Turkey has achieved all round progress and Pakistan has much to learn from the brotherly country. He thanked Turkey for extending meaningful assistance in the implementation of Metro Bus project in Lahore.
