Staff Reporter Islamabad
Board of Investment in collaboration with MOFA & UNDP participated in SDG Investment Fair 2021 organized by the United Nations Department of Economic & Social Affairs.
The two-day virtual event from 13-14 April 2021, provided four developing countries the opportunity to present their investment ready projects to international global investors & fund managers.
Secretary BOI, Ms. Fareena Mazhar represented Pakistan on the global forum. Ms. Fareena apprised the audience about Pakistan’s investment regime & facilitation and wide range of services provided by the Board of Investment to international and domestic investors including support with work visa & opening of branch/liaison offices in the country.
Highlighting the facilitation for investors under the ongoing reform drives namely Pakistan Regulatory Modernization Initiative (PRMI) & Ease of Doing Business (EODB), she stated that a company can now be registered in 24 hours & Pakistan is now offering online e- visa facility to more than 174 countries.
She further added that Pakistan has recently launched Single Window Company as part of compliance with trade facilitation agreement of the World Trade Organization which links over 60 government departments for acquiring necessary certifications online. This will facilitate speedy disposal of import & export transactions.
Pakistan’s tax & incentive regime was also part of the presentation wherein Secretary BOI shared that the government is offering special incentives for projects related to technology, clean energy & social sector including housing & construction.
She mentioned that Pakistan’s financial regulatory structure is robust and facilitates priority sector investments through flexible support.
Addressing the audience Ms. Fareena informed that BOI has a repository of over USD 14 billion SDG aligned projects in the sector of transport & communication, energy including renewable energy, water supply and sanitation, education, health care and information technology.
These projects will not only contribute to SDGs but will also support local employment generation and economic growth.
The investors were presented 8 SDG selected projects with high potential to attract FDI.
The projects were from varied sectors including infrastructure, hydro power, medical devices development center, silicon solar PV panels fabrication
