LAHORE - US Assistant Secretary of State Robert O Blake has said that the United States is considering establishing an investment fund for American businessmen that would help provide them new opportunities to invest in Pakistan.
The US Assistant Secretary of State was addressing a select gathering at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Monday. LCCI former Vice President Shahzad Ali Malik, US Consul General in Lahore Carmela Conroy, former LCCI Presidents Iftikhar Ali Malik, Mohammad Ali Mian and Convener Standing Committee on Diplomatic Missions Mian Tariq Misbah also spoke on the occasion.
Mr Robert O Blake said that the United States was working on many fronts to help Pakistan achieve economic stability. He said the US was about to begin work on Bilateral Investment Treaty. “There is considerable effort being undertaking now in Washington so it is expected that the Bilateral Investment Treaty would be ready soon after which bilateral negotiations with Pakistan would be started.
He said that the United States was going to add a new page is Pak-US relations by maximizing it support in a number of sectors including power, Agriculture, Market access, infrastructure and water.
The US Assistant Secretary of State pledged American Assistance in overcoming electricity shortage developing agriculture sector besides cooperation to maximize exports of Pakistani products.
He said this was a very historic juncture now in relations between Pakistan and the United States. The strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the United States aimed at broadening and deepening Pak-US partnership in a very systematic way. The US official said that this time it was different because for the first time a steering group and working groups were being established that would cover all aspects of bilateral relations particularly the trade and investment areas. “The US sees Pakistan as an extra ordinary important partner right now not only in dealing with terrorism but also in helping to achieve stability in this strategically important part of the world. We want to help government in overcoming energy shortage and to delivers basic services to people and also improve governance.” He said that it was quite important that trade and business organizations like LCCI should take responsibility of advising the govt about the areas in which the govt should focus.
Source: http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Business/30-Mar-2010/US-considering-fund-for-investment-in-Pakistan
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