| |
UAE businessmen to invest $3b in agri, dairy sector
Amanullah Khan
Karachi—The Middle East Investors have shown firm willingness to
invest $3billion in agricultire especially in dairy farming in
Pakistan. Actually, the Investors, institutions pledged over $3bn in
new investments to Pakistan’s agriculture and dairy sectors at the
first ever Middle East Pakistan Agriculture and Dairy Investment
Forum held in Dubai. Speaking to a group of more than 100 delegates
involved in the agricultural industry, His Highness Sheikh Nahyan
Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Group, said,
“Pakistan’s economy has seen extra-ordinary progress. A wide range
of reforms has been enacted in the areas of taxation, trade and
tariffs, banking and finance, industry and agriculture, deregulation
and privatization, fiscal transparency and governance. We see the
results of these bold measures in high levels of economic growth.
The confidence of the private sector is high and international
investments are increasing.”
His Highness added, “Agriculture is crucial to Pakistan’s economic
prosperity. Investment opportunities in this sector are attractive.
I encourage all potential investors in this sector to take a
long-term view of Pakistan’s economy as one of the emerging markets
of the world – a market where astute investors should want to
establish and sustain a long term presence.” Pakistan Minister for
Investment Naveed Qamar presented the ‘Largest foreign investor of
Pakistan’ award to His Highness Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan
at the ceremony.
The objective of the Forum organized with the support of major
international names like Nestlé Pakistan Ltd, Tetra Pak, DeLaval,
Millac Foods, Habib Bank Ltd, Al Rabie Saudi Arabia and Shakargunj
Ltd was to showcase Pakistan’s dairy and agriculture sector for
Middle East and Gulf investors, and for compatible Pakistani and
Gulf business houses to exchange contacts and experiences, and to
network with a view of generating interest in investments and joint
venture opportunities in the sector.
Commenting on the motivations behind the event, Managing Partner MAP
Services Group Huma Fakhar said, “The attractiveness of Pakistan to
GCC investors in general, particularly in the fields of financial
services, telecommunications, and real estate makes the agriculture
and dairy sector the next frontier for investment.
|
