Pakistan offers best returns to companies: Sherry

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman has said that Pakistan offers one of the best rates of returns to business companies and that American companies can benefit from business and investment opportunities in Pakistan. Addressing a two-day US-Pakistan Business Opportunities Conference in London, she praised the idea of bringing the businesses of the two countries together.

The conference started with a reception hosted by US Ambassador to the UK Louis B Susman.

Susman said that the purpose of the conference was to bring the business community of the US and Pakistan together to explore trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.

He said that durable economy was key to stability in Pakistan and “that is why the US is in favour of trade with Pakistan instead of aid”. He hoped that the US-Pakistan economic partnership would strengthen. United States Trade Representative Assistant Michael Delaney said that the conference would help provide an excellent networking opportunity to the businesses of the two countries and that he was confident of the productive outcome of the initiative.

He said that US-Pakistan trade relationship never saw ups and downs and had always been mutually beneficial.

United States Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ambassador Dan Feldman emphasised that to increase US investment to Pakistan, it was essential to conclude Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT).

Pakistan High Commissioner for UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Board of Investment Chairman Salim H Madviwala and Commerce Secretary Munir Qureshi also attended the reception. Wajid Shamsul Hasan said that the government of Pakistan, its leadership and its people greatly valued their ties with the US and would like to pursue a programme to broaden and further strengthen bilateral relations. He welcomed American investors to the growing market of Pakistan.

The conference was an initiative of the office of United States Trade Representative and the government of Pakistan. The event which was attended by big business companies of the US and Pakistan aimed at exploring trade and investment opportunities in the two countries.

The US government was represented at this conference to demonstrate their support to this opportunity for businessmen from both sides to interact and actually conduct business transactions. International Finance Corporation, World Bank Private Sector Development Group, US Trade and Development Agency, US Overseas Private Investment Corporation, USAID and Asian Development Bank also attended the event to support growth of business ties between Pakistan and the US.

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